Blackpool and Bispham town centre restaurant projects delayed amid police concerns over licence holder
The applicants were successful in planning term but have been held up at licensing.
Two proposed new restaurants in Blackpool and Bispham have been held up after police raised concerns over premises licence applications.
The two eateries, located on Devonshire Road in Blackpool and Red Bank Road in Bispham, successfully obtained permission from Blackpool Council planning officers this summer, but their bid for premise licences have not been as straightforward.
A premises licence is an official authorisation granted by a local council to use a specific venue for licensable activities including the selling or supplying alcohol; providing regulated entertainment such as live music, dance, or indoor sporting events; and the serving late-night hot food or hot drinks between 11pm and 5am.
The dual restaurant proposals, which are both linked, were due to have a licence hearing at Blackpool last month, seeking permission for separate premises licences. But matters were cast into doubt after police raised concerns that the original individual nominated as the prospective licence holder was not a suitable candidate to hold a licence.
The planning agent David Snelson, acting for the applications, stressed that the individual was no longer part of the operation, insisting that a Mr Steve Singh was now the new prospective license holder for both the Bispham and Blackpool premises.
However, the licence department at Blackpool stated that it was not possible to change the proposed licence holder at such late notice, and a new application would have to be submitted. The applications were duly withdrawn.
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There had previously been no similar hold-ups with the planning matters for either establishment.
In Blackpool, the planning application for a change of use of the ground floor from a florist to a restaurant and ancillary bar at 294 Devonshire Road - formerly Flower Scentsations - was approved by planners. Papers made reference to a “Desi Kitchen”, suggesting that the eatery will offer South Asian cuisine.
Documents show that the restaurant will be modestly-sized. The main floor space of the premises are to be used for seating, showing 5 tables and 18 covers. This area will also include a bar counter. There will be one WC accessible from the restaurant area, and a kitchen to the rear.
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Meanwhile, in Bispham, plans to convert the former Ex-Catalogue Discount store at 64-66 Red Bank Road in Bispham into a new restaurant and ancillary bar were also approved.
The applicants were seeking a Certificate of Lawfulness, arguing that, because both the former use and the proposed use both fell within use class E, it would not constitute ‘development’ of the site and, consequently, no planning permission would be needed.
Blackpool’s Head of Development Management concluded: “The proposal would not constitute development as set out under section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and would therefore be lawful in accordance with section 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).”