Rebecca Mackintosh and River Elliot outside Roots Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n
An Inverness cafe\u2019s plans for an exterior facelift have ruffled feathers among a Scottish architecture group – who have objected to the proposal.<\/p>\n
Roots Caf\u00e9 opened its doors back in March<\/a><\/strong> after taking over the site of the former Velocity Caf\u00e9 on the corner of Crown Avenue in the Crown.<\/p>\n Run by former Velocity staff River Elliott and Rebecca MacKintosh, who did not want to say goodbye to a place that had become a familiar meeting spot for many<\/a><\/strong>, the swift return of a caf\u00e9 to the site was warmly welcomed in the community.<\/p>\n But the exterior of the caf\u00e9 remained similar to its years as Velocity, bar new signs above the windows<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n And a new application was subsequently lodged that would repaint the blue with a \u2018Mid Stone\u2019 colour to bring it more in line with the local masonry.<\/p>\n However, that plan also includes the replacement of existing timber doors and windows with aluminium-clad alternatives.<\/p>\n And it is those new windows and doors which have sparked an objection by the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland<\/a><\/strong>, a national charity dating back to the 1950s which seeks to protect the country\u2019s built heritage. It claims they are out of keeping with the character of the local Crown Conservation Area.<\/p>\n Lodging its objection, the society said: \u201cThe proposed development lies within the Crown Conservation Area in Inverness.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the building in question is not listed, it occupies a highly sensitive location at the boundary between the retail and residential elements of the Conservation Area and contributes to its overall character.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Crown Conservation Area is recognised for its coherent streetscape, historic detailing, and balanced transitions between different land uses.<\/p>\n \u201cThe building in question, although modest, presents as a historic retail unit and plays a subtle but important role in this context. Its traditional shopfront arrangement, including the proportion and detailing of its windows and doors, is consistent with the area’s historic character.<\/p>\n \u201cThe proposal to replace existing traditional-style timber windows and doors with new aluminium units of a different design raises significant concerns. Such a change would not be in keeping with the established materials and proportions typical of the Conservation Area and would erode its architectural coherence.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a Conservation Area, even small alterations can cumulatively diminish its character and appearance. This application, if approved, would set an undesirable precedent for unsympathetic interventions.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile it is acknowledged that the building itself is not of individual architectural or historic significance, it contributes positively to the setting of the Conservation Area and its transition between commercial and residential uses. This role should not be underestimated when considering proposals that affect its external appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n It has called for Highland Council to reject the application unless a \u201clike-for-like approach\u201d is taken when replacing the timber ones already in place.<\/p>\n Find out more about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n