Fylde Council delivers fate of Lytham restaurant Spago's long planning fight to keep glass extension

The owner of Spago restaurant, on Dicconson Terrace, applied for approval for a scheme to amend the glazed balustrade and canopy at the front of the premises, as the current structure had been deemed unlawful and was the subject of a Planning Enforcement Notice.

This latest application had been recommended for refusal by the planning officer over concerns it was detrimental to Lytham’s conservation area.

But members of Fylde planning committee today narrowly voted to approve the proposals, which included variations to the existing canopy, involving removal of a glazed balustrade and the removal of a central vertical support to both side elevations and use of ‘seemless’ glazing.

Councillors agreed that the planning officer now be delegated to make recommendations on the best way forward for the project.

Restaurant boss Tony Vavoso, in support of his latest planning application, told the meeting that the extra space provided by the extension, offering an additional 40 covers to the 80 inside, made the business more viable, at a time when the hospitality industry had endured a tough time after the Covid pandemic.

But councillors on the committee faced a planning dilemma.

On the one hand, not only was the 1825 building a Grade II listed property, it was also prominently located in Lytham’s conservation area, presenting a strong case to refuse the application based on the visual “harm” it would cause.

There were concerns that the amended canopy would still obscure a valued building and that the structure looked bulky and was unsympathetic visually.

However, councillors who were more supportive of the application said it would be unfortunate if a decision by the authority were to undermine a valuable business in the heart of town, whose viability was assisted by the canopy.

Planning case officer Andrew Stell , who outlined why the application was recommended for refusal, said councillors needed to consider the potential visual harm of the application, set against its potential benefits.

Mr Vavoso told the meeting: “For 12 years every application has faced resistance and cost me thousands of pounds, putting strain on my business.

“If this building does not stay as a restaurant in the future the canopy can always be removed, without leaving any trace.

“But for the business, it has made extra space, all year round for customers, supporting a business after it was hit by Covid.

“Spago is the longest standing restaurant in Lytham, employing local people. I ask the committee to support my application, not just for Spago, but for Lytham.”

However, Cllr Sandra Pitman likened the effect of the canopy to a greenhouse and said: “I don’t think this application is in the interest of the public.

“The overall effect does not help me to see this as a positive development for the conservation area. More needs to be done to reduce its impact.”

The move to approve the scheme was led by Cllr Peter Collins, seconded by Cllr Jordan Ledger and successfully carried.

Cllr Collins said: “This may not not a temporary structure, however the loss to the building’s appearance would be temporary if the balustrade was removed.

“If it were returned to being a house in the future, you would easily reinstate the front view.

“On the whole, we should be supporting businesses and I vote to approve it.”