Small bakery wins planning appeal to keep pink paint-job

A small bakery has won an appeal to keep its pink paintwork after councillors disagreed with planners.

They Bake, in Ayr’s Newmarket Street, had originally applied for retrospective planning permission having already painted the premises.

However, bosses discovered they required both general planning permission as well as listed building consent.

An application in July 2021 was rejected as South Ayrshire Council planners said it was contrary to guidance for buildings within the conservation area. The business appealed both decisions.

On Tuesday, councillors on South Ayrshire Council’s local review body agreed to allow the business to retain the colourful exterior, but told them to restore a mural which was painted over.

But to retain the decor, the business will have to submit a new application for listed building consent after it failed to meet the appeal deadline that required to go to the Scottish Ministers.

Planners told councillors on the regulatory panel: “The property is listed at category C and sited within Ayr Central Conservation Area.

“The original shopfront comprised black coloured vitrolite tiles which are specifically referred to in the listing description for the building.

“The tiles have been painted, and a decorative feature carved into the vitrolite has also been painted over.

“Whilst it is acknowledged that the vitrolite itself has been retained, the painting of the vitrolite frontages of the premises has adversely affected the character and special interest of the listed building through the unacceptable alteration of a feature specifically referred to in the listing description.”

However, councillors were keen to look at the benefits of the work.

Councillor Craig Mackay said that “It is not the way it was. It wasn’t in great condition any way. In many regards it freshened it up.”

He added that he was ready to accept the appeal providing paint be removed from the mural.

Councillor Alec Clark agreed: “I think they have actually improved the building. It had looked past its best.”

Councillor Brian McGinley also saw the decor as an improvement to the area.

He said: “That whole area is tired looking. It also brings buildings back into use.”

Panel chair, Brian Connolly, also backed the move as being “in tune with what they are trying to do in Newmarket Street”.

The local review body agreed to uphold the appeal on the condition that the businesses informs them of how they are to remove the paint and then carry out the work within two months.

By local democracy reporter Kevin Dyson