Wednesday March 11th 2026
Plans for the cafe have been approved
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Tea and cakes are to replace toilet breaks at a former public convenience in a Borders village.
Scottish Borders Council has granted approval for the conversion of the old toilet block south of Lancaster House, at the heart of Newtown St Boswells, into a new cafe.
The toilets closed in 2023 and were part of a sell-off of such facilities by SBC a year later.
Now, following an asset transfer, the building is to be transformed into a food and drink outlet, referenced in a new report as ‘The Wheezy Cafe’.
Externally, a new window, entrance door, serving hatch and roof lights are proposed.
The Perspex sheeting to the mono-pitched roof would be replaced with Spanish slates and a flue would be inserted into the southern roof slope.
New signage is proposed and there would be a paved outdoor seating area to the south.
In her report approving the application, Julie Hayward, SBC principal planning officer, states: “The building is within the centre of Newtown St Boswells, which is characterised by a range of uses, including the council headquarters, housing and commercial/business.
“The proposed use would be in keeping with the established uses of the area. The building has been vacant since the toilets closed in 2023 and the proposal would bring a vacant building back into use.
“The building is lacking in architectural and historic merit and is viewed within the context of the council buildings.
“The external alterations proposed are minor in nature, including a new composite half-glazed entrance door in anthracite grey, a serving hatch in the east elevation facing the pavement with an anthracite grey aluminium frame and roller shutter, an external flue and Velux windows.
“These would not harm the character of the building and the new slate roof would be an enhancement.
“The building is not prominent in the street-scene due to its scale and the proposal renovations would improve the visual amenities of the area.”
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