Restaurant loses battle to keep Covid atrium

Planners have turned down a Blackpool restaurant's bid to keep its glazed extension, saying it conflicts with policies designed to protect the character of the Promenade.

The Eating Inn in South Shore had hoped its revised application would appease town hall planners who had already refused a previous scheme for the venue.

The retrospective application for the development, which was built to enable the business to continue trading during the coronavirus pandemic, said improvements had been made to the glazed dining area including creating a more solid roof.

But the scheme has been refused by Blackpool Council using delegated powers which means it did not have to go before members of the planning committee.

A report setting out the decision said the extension "would project significantly beyond the established building line formed by the rest of the properties in the row".

It would make the property appear out of place amongst the neighbouring properties and "also has a detrimental impact on strategic views along the Promenade and seafront", it said.

"It is not considered that changing the materials of the roofing mitigates this impact as a shift from transparent to solid materials would increase visual impact."

Planners also warned that if they had approved the scheme it would have made it more difficult for the council to resist similar piecemeal development in future along the seafront.

The application on behalf of the restaurant, located between Waterloo Road and Rawcliffe Street, had said that the extension "enhances the corporate identity of the business and increases kerb appeal to passing trade, which makes up around 90% of the business's turnover".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.