Grangemouth hotel plans to convert bar area into four shops

Planning permission has been granted for the Bowhouse Hotel, Grangemouth, to convert its ground floor bar area into four shops.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Members of Falkirk Council's planning committee agreed to proposals which will see the hotel retaining the first floor for accommodation and a small part of the ground floor for a reception area.

Planning permission for the change had previously been submitted by owner Shajaz Ali but was turned down in January last year due to insufficient parking.

This time Mr Ali was successful, however,

Bowhouse Hotel, GrangemouthBowhouse Hotel, Grangemouth
Bowhouse Hotel, Grangemouth
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Local councillor Allyson Black had asked the committee to look at the application as she was concerned that the parking arrangements would mean people reversing out onto a busy road that is a main bus route and close to schools and nurseries.

Read More
Revised date for temporary job centre to move into former Falkirk BHS store

But councillors were told that while it wasn't ideal, there are many other locations nearby that have the same arrangement, and Falkirk Council's roads department did not object to the application.

Councillors heard that there had been 37 responses to the proposals, including two petitions, 11 objections and 24 letters of support.

One petition, with 82 signatures, objected on the basis of damage to existing local businesses, anti-social behaviour, parking and road safety.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A different petition with 99 signatures was received objecting on road safety grounds.

Grangemouth Community Council also objected to the application on road safety grounds, although they noted that they would be guided by the Council’s Roads Development Unit.

Other responses were more favourable, with people saying they felt the new shops would benefit the area.

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.