New plans revealed for landmark St Andrews bookshop building
A historic former bookshop in St Andrews is set to be converted into retail units and homes.
Members of Fife Council’s North East Planning Committee will next week be asked to support recommendations to approve proposals for the former J&G Innes premises.
The vacant Category C-listed building sits on the corner of Church Street and South Street and still includes branding for the St Andrews Citizen newspaper.
The plans, submitted by Benedict Laogan, would see the upper floors of the former retail premises converted to create five flats, while a historic cottage at the rear would become a separate house.
Retail use would remain at ground-floor level, while a new first and second-floor extension is proposed at the rear of the former Christian Institute building.
The council received 18 objections to the original proposal, including one from St Andrews Community Council, and a further six objections to the final design.
Concerns include overlooking and privacy, loss of daylight and sunlight, parking, noise, over development, the scale of the extension and its impact on the listed buildings and conservation area.
However, planning officers say the development would bring a “prominent listed building” in St Andrews town centre back into use and would preserve the character of the listed building and surrounding conservation area.
In their report to councillors, they state: “The proposed works are not considered to have an adverse impact on the design/character/architectural or historic importance, nor would the proposal have an impact on the setting of the listed building or conservation area.
“Therefore, it is determined that the proposed development would not have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the Category C listed building, complying with the above noted legislation, development plan policies and national guidance.”
Councillors are due to make a decision on the proposals, as well as an application for listed building consent, at their meeting on Wednesday, November 11.
The doors to the distinctive and much loved book businesses closed in 2023 after 144 years
Historic bookshop, J & G Innes Ltd departed town on Hogmanay that year, marking the end of an era as owner, Jude Innes, the great great granddaughter of George Innes who opened the book shop with his brother John in 1879, retired.