Permission has been granted for a new luxury dessert cafe in Perth city centre.
The unit at 226-232 High Street will undergo a change of use from a retail store and be occupied by Haute Dolci.
Haute Dolci is a fine dining luxury dessert shop with 17 stores across the country.
The brand specialises in opulent takes on popular dishes, from waffles, sundaes and crepes, to brunch plates, burgers and wraps.
A spokesperson confirmed Perth would become the chain’s second site in Scotland, with the other currently located in St James Square, Edinburgh.
The site will be “in line” with previous store openings, including the most recent in Watford.
More details on an opening date will be made public by the end of July.
The High Street unit was previously occupied by Transform Community Development - a charity which aims to fight homelessness and food waste - as a furniture shop, which opened in February 2020.
Unfortunately the shop closed on Friday, March 17 and was showered with praise by locals on social media for helping communities during the pandemic.
The charity had taken over the site from the previous Mona Lisa shop.
Plans were then lodged by Mr Stewart Fenwick, partnering with Abberley Design Consultants and ADA Interior Architecture, with the council in April.
One objector has raised concerns with the council over the greenlit proposal, questioning the need for another eatery in the town centre.
Ms Lauren Cochrane also believes the new cafe would add to nearby parking and congestion issues and that further retail offerings need to be prioritised.
She wrote: “I believe that going from a quiet furniture shop to a restaurant will negatively affect neighbouring residents, from the excessive noise pollution, potential for rodents/vermin with food waste along with adding to an already congested street with parking issues to note.
“There are already an abundance of restaurants/cafes on the High Street and South Methven Street, is there really a need to add yet another?
“Perth needs a variety of business to make it a place to come visit and I honestly believe that by removing another retail premises will worsen the area for residents and neighbouring business.
“The High Street really needs to improve its retail offering to entice people into town, not open up another chain restaurant.”
