
Angus Planning Ahead: Campsite expansion go-ahead and name change for WH Smith stores
Approval has been given to a caravan and campsite upgrade in the grounds of a former Angus jail.
The campsite is already in place at Gardeners Cottage on what was previously Noranside open prison estate.
It was initially set up as a five-pitch facility under a Camping and Caravanning Club exemption certificate in 2019.
Angus Council planning officials have now granted change of use permission under delegated powers which will lift the 'members only' status.
The green light means new pitches and improved welfare facilities for visitors can be created.
The council's handling report stated: 'The proposal would allow for an expansion of the existing business and an improvement to the tourism facilities on offer at the site.
'The applicant resides at Gardeners Cottage, adjacent to the site, and a condition is attached to ensure this property is only occupied by someone associated with the campsite operation.'
The replacement name for WH Smith may soon appear on Arbroath and Montrose outlets.
TG Jones has applied for permission to put new signs on the long-established shops at 196-212 High Street, Arbroath and 59-61 High Street in Montrose.
Earlier this year, WH Smith sold its 500 high street stores to Modella Capital.
The Angus outlets were part of the £76 million deal for the 233-year-old company.
TG Jones says the signs will be like-for-like replacements.
This will ensure that no historic features of the conservation area properties are covered up.
The separate applications will be considered in due course.
There are plans for the redevelopment of historic cottages in the village of Friockheim.
An application has come forward to replace 10/11 Gardyne Street and add a detached bungalow in the large rear garden area.
The single storey cottages sit next to the Star Inn and the former village post office.
A design statement from Ian Rodger Architects says they are in a poor condition.
The proposal is to create an infill with the two new homes on the street façade.
Each would be a two-storey, three bedroom house.
The proposed two-bedroom bungalow would be accessed by a pend from Gardyne Street.
The application is yet to be determined.
Permission is being sought for a new house in a Muirhead garden.
The application has been submitted for the property at 7 Newtyle Road.
Plans show a two-storey, three-bedroom home on a 477 square metre site. The applicants say around 450 sq m of garden would remain.
The proposed house would be finished in light render and Denfind stone, with a natural slate roof.
Angus Council is yet to determine the application.
The Angus Council planning portal links to the applications can be found at:
Noranside caravan site
Arbroath TG Jones signs
Montrose TG Jones signs
Friockheim houses
Muirhead home

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Courier
a day ago
- The Courier
Forfar Gables vandalism bill revealed as affordable housing plans resurface
The cost of combating vandals at The Gables in Forfar has been revealed as it emerged multi-million pound affordable housing plans for the site are back on track. In 2024, Angus Council closed the Arbroath Road centre for adults with learning disabilities. It had operated for around 40 years. Eight residents left The Gables on March 27 last year after the service was moved to the former Beech Hill residential home in Lour Road, Forfar. Security measures alone since the home closed have cost more than £15,000. Angus councillors had previously agreed to transfer the Gables site to Caledonia Housing Association. The Tayside-based landlord drew up proposals for a development of around 20 affordable homes. But the deal was never finalised after CHA dropped the scheme due to spiralling costs. The Courier can now confirm the project is back on the cards after policy committee councillors approved the land transfer to CHA for the second time. A report recommending the site transfer was agreed in private on Tuesday. And we can also reveal the cost of tackling vandalism there since the doors were closed. Shocking images from inside The Gables showed the state of the building following a deliberate fire there in February. Angus Council has spent £15,491 on security measures and repairs at the site since it closed. The figure was part of a Freedom of Information response around expenditure at The Gables since 2019. Between the council and Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, the planned and unplanned maintenance figure exceeded £135,000. Totals for the council's planned and unplanned maintenance over the period are: The 2024/25 figure largely comprises the vandalism costs. AHSCP's total outlay was £51,166 over the period. The council said there had been 'six or seven entries or attempted entry and various degrees of vandalism' to the property. Only one required the attendance of Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, according to the authority. A spokesperson for Caledonia Housing Association said: 'We welcome Angus Council's decision to approve the transfer of The Gables site. 'The legal process has yet to begin and no date for the transfer has been set. 'Any future development will require a fresh planning application, which will be informed by local housing needs and developed in partnership with Angus Council. 'Caledonia will not assume responsibility for securing and maintaining the site until the legal process is complete.'


Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
B&M sees profits fall 13 per cent to £431million – as shoppers cut back on spending
The retailer now has 777 stores in the UK B&M BLOW B&M sees profits fall 13 per cent to £431million – as shoppers cut back on spending Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BUDGET retailer B&M has seen profits fall 13 per cent to £431million as shoppers cut back on spending. The chain blamed poor weather at the start of its financial year for 'very subdued' sales of its garden centre range. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 B&M has seen profits fall 13 per cent to £431million as shoppers cut back on spending Credit: Reuters And price cuts to attract customers are said to have reduced revenue from homeware, toys and electricals, and led to a profit warning in February. Nevertheless, the opening of 36 new stores has seen revenues grow by 3.8 per cent to £4.5billion in the year to March. The retailer now has 777 stores in the UK, as well as 343 Heron Foods and B&M Express outlets, and 135 shops in France. The chain, which was founded in Speke in 1978, said it had adjusted its range to include more products at higher prices, which had boosted both the volume and value of sales in recent months. B&M said: 'The underlying market trend towards discount retail continues, and the group's value proposition will continue to resonate with consumers.' Boss Alex Russo left in April but his successor Tjeerd Jegen is not due to take over until the middle of this month. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'The imminent arrival of a new CEO cannot come soon enough. 'Investors will be looking for the new boss to do a thorough review of the business, work out what's gone wrong and outline a plan to get back on top.' Shares in the chain plunged by 12 per cent yesterday. Mr Mould added: 'Shrinking profits, reduced cash flow and higher net debt frame a poor year for B&M. B&M launches their children's outdoor range which is perfect for summer - there's a £2 bargain that'll easily keep the kids entertained 'It should have mopped up extra business from cash-strapped people looking for bargains.' ALAS WH SMITH & TG JONES… WH SMITH said it is on track to complete the £75million sale of its high street chain — which will see its name changed to TG Jones. Its purchase by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital, expected this month, means WH Smith, which opened its first branch in 1729, will quit the high street. 3 WH Smith is on track to complete the sale of its high street chain — which will see its name changed to TG Jones Credit: PA The 480 shops will become branches of TG Jones, with all staff moving to the newly named business. Sales at WH Smith's travel division, including shops in airports and stations, rose 5 per cent in the past three months. HEALTHY SERVING THE service sector returned to growth last month as customer confidence improved and fears over punishing US tariffs receded. The S&P Global UK services PMI survey produced a positive score of 50.9 in May from April's negative of 49, boosted by recovering global markets. The report also showed optimism among businesses rose to its highest since October. But service firms warned increased business uncertainty and budget pressure over higher labour costs 'continued to dampen demand'. PARAGON SURGE SPECIALIST lender Paragon Bank enjoyed a profits surge of 26.7 per cent to £149.4million in the past six months. Home lending soared as borrowers rushed to complete before the stamp duty holiday ended in early April. New lending surged by a quarter over six months to the end of March to £810million. Paragon made a £6.5million provision for its motor finance business while it waited for a court ruling, which could cost Lloyds Bank £1.2billion. The Supreme Court is to make a ruling in the summer. A GOLDEN YEAR FOR BROKER HIGH gold prices helped pawnbroker Ramsdens' profits rise 54 per cent in the past six months to £6.1million. The precious metal topped $3,500 per troy ounce for the first time on record in April, boosting interest among customers eager to cash in on jewellery. 3 Pawnbroker Ramsdens' profits have risen 54 per cent in the past six months Credit: Ramsdens The Middlesbrough-based chain sells it in its 169 stores, online or to a bullion dealer. Revenues for its jewellery shop also surged 18 per cent year on year. Boss Peter Kenyon said: 'The gold price allows us to pay the customer more, means we make more as well, and also helps pawnbroking a bit with some of the recoveries when people don't pay us back.' Rival pawnbroker H&T last month agreed to be bought by US giant Firstcash for nearly £300million. Mr Kenyon said: 'If someone came with a big chequebook we'd have to listen.' ECONOMY FAITH FALL CONFIDENCE in the state of our economy has fallen from 45 per cent to just 28 per cent in the past ten years. A series of economic blows, including the cost-of-living crisis, Brexit, Covid pandemic and geopolitical upheaval, has dented our optimism, according to the Barclays Ten Years of Spend report. But confidence in non-essential spending has held strong, at an average of 53 per cent, the report said. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.


Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Rachel Reeves Northern transport pledge
From Rachel Reeves' £15.6bn pledge to transform Northern transport and WH Smith's upbeat travel sales, to a reprieve on steel tariffs and a cyber attack on North Face - here are today's top UK business stories. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rachel Reeves is announcing a £15.6 billion boost for public transport in the North and Midlands. Metro and tram expansions are planned for Tyne and Wear, Manchester, the West Midlands and Yorkshire. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Chancellor says the UK needs a new economic model that invests in every region. She'll also change funding rules, which critics say are biased towards London. Rachel Reeves backs Northern transport investment with £15.6bn pledge. | Getty Images West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker revealed more about his plans to expand the transport network in the region. He said: 'Our plans and ambition for a new tram network, a new line, that will connect Birmingham City Centre, through Digbeth where Steven Knight wants to build a film studios, up to the sports quarter, and beyond that through East Birmingham and North Solihull to Arden Cross. It's a bold ambition that supports our ambition for growth and our ambition to attract private sector investment and develop opportunities for people across the region." B&M sales dip and oil and gas jobs warning: More Business in Brief WH Smith says like-for-like travel sales increased five per cent in the last quarter, with UK growth helping lift performance. The retailer remains on track to meet full-year expectations, and is upbeat ahead of summer. The sale of its high street arm to Modella Capital is set to complete by the end of June. B&M says UK sales dipped last year as cautious shoppers and weak wage growth hit spending. Like-for-like revenues fell 3.1 per cent, though new stores helped lift total sales to £4.5 billion. Pre-tax profits dropped 13 per cent to £431 million over the year. The UK's oil and gas workforce could be halved in the next few years. A Robert Gordon University report says 400 jobs could go every fortnight under slower green transition plans. That's the equivalent of closing the Grangemouth refinery every two weeks. Jobs could fall from 115,000 to just 57,000 by the early 2030s. British steel and aluminium exports to the US will keep a 25 per cent tariff - for now. Donald Trump has doubled rates for other countries, but the UK secured different treatment in a recent deal. Industry welcomed the move, but warned uncertainty remains, with changes possible from July. The UK government said it was 'pleased' firms won't face higher tariffs at this stage. North Face and Cartier are the latest brands hit by cyber attacks, with customer data stolen. Names, emails and account details were accessed - but no financial information was affected. North Face says a 'credential stuffing' attack let hackers into some customer accounts. Details such as purchases, addresses and phone numbers may have been exposed.