The sign at Edinburgh Street Food, which has caused a bit of a stooshie since last year, has now been approved by the Chief Planning Officer.
In a decision the council has advised that if the sign is moved just a little further back then it can stay in place.
Edinburgh Street Food are rejoicing at this reversal of the prior decision on their Instagram page saying: “We need to move it a few strides back towards our heated and covered beer garden, but those shocking pink neon lights will still guide you to heaven.”
The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland said in April last year that the sign was “visually intrusive” and had been installed before permission was granted.
Now, in an apparent U-turn, permission has been granted by David Given the chief planning officer using delegated powers, and also making it a condition that the sign is moved four metres and is nearer to the Edinburgh Street Food (ESF) premises, so making it clear that it is connected to ESF.
So are we taking bets on the W Hotel eventually wearing planners down and getting permission for their neon W atop the newest hotel in town? We understand that the developers of the £1 billion St James Quarter own Edinburgh Street Food as well as the Quarter, so they may take a little heart from this decision.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
