A NIGHTCLUB preparing to relaunch itself in the Capital has been dealt a major blow after being refused permission to create a rooftop terrace for smokers.

Gig, on Lothian Road – which has been closed since February last year – secured an operating licence in March, but the council's planning officials have blocked proposals to convert the roof space.

The ruling means smokers will have to spill out on to the busy street – where there are already a number of pubs and clubs – to have a cigarette, as club owners Luminar Leisure claim the roof is the "only suitable location" for this kind of shelter.

Community leaders today raised concerns about a large number of people gathering outside the club. David Rintoul, chairman of Tollcross Community Council, said: "It's such a narrow pavement for a busy road. I have seen the road blocked in the past with people coming out of Gig. It will lead to trouble and a lot more noise on the street."

Gig originally opened in the former Revolution building at the end of 2005 but closed after just four months.

Luminar Leisure had hoped to turn the flat roof overlooking Lothian Road into an all-weather terrace for smokers, complete with canopies, tables, heating and lighting and surrounded by a metal railing. Blueprint Interior Design, working on behalf of the company, said the terrace was "imperative to avoid falling trade" due to the smoking ban.

It stated: "The location we have indicated is the only suitable one for an external smoking shelter which works internally for the building. Due to the remote location of the smoking terrace, it is our opinion that minimal disruption will be caused to the surrounding area.

But city council planning officials say the development would be "inappropriate" to the "architectural context" of the listed building, which is in the West End Conservation Area.

Planners were also against plans to turn a first-floor window into a door and create an external staircase leading to the roof terrace.

A report by Alan Henderson, the council's head of planning said: "The roof terrace can be seen from the West Approach Road and from Lothian Road.

"The conversion of the window to a door and the proposed steel stair will be visible and will affect the symmetry of the window bays of this listed building, adversely affect its setting and be detrimental to the appearance of the West End Conservation Area.

"These proposed features plus the additional canopies and roof furniture will also cause a visual distraction which will affect the setting of the listed building."

A spokesman for Luminar Leisure said it would have to "review the situation" at the club after being refused permission for the rooftop terrace.