US coffee chain Blank Street has defended the launch of its second Glasgow outlet, despite Glasgow City Council rejecting a recent planning application for the site.
The New York-founded brand opened the new shop on the corner of Byres Road and Ruthven Street earlier this week, but its bid to formally change the premises to Class 3 use – required to sell hot food for consumption on-site – was refused by planning officials last month.
Glasgow City Council’s enforcement team has confirmed it is aware of the situation and that enforcement action could follow if the venue is deemed to be operating outside permitted planning conditions.
However, a spokesperson for Blank Street insisted the venue is “rightfully operating” under the former tenant’s permissions. The unit previously housed a Greggs and retains its grey exterior, rather than the signature green proposed by the chain.
According to the company, it is serving food and drink under existing Class 1A consent, which allows for the sale of cold items and some limited takeaway, and said it has “planning and necessary permissions for the intended use of the Byres Road store”.
The application to switch to Class 3 use was turned down on the basis it would “erode the retail character” of the area, pushing non-retail premises to 44.4% of the block, and planners raised concerns over inadequate ventilation and insufficient marketing of the site for retail use.
Despite the setback, customers have reportedly been queuing out the door to sample Blank Street’s coffee, matcha and pastries since opening.
Under planning law, the company has up to three months to lodge an appeal, which would be considered by the city’s planning review committee. It is understood that enforcement action is unlikely before that process concludes.
