A popular Isle of Wight cocktail bar’s bid to diversify its offering with alternating mobile kitchens in its rear courtyard has been turned down by County Hall.
The Isle of Wight Council made a split decision on Brian Hicks’s planning application for a change of use of Cowes’s The Compass Bar at 10 and 11 High Street from a ‘barista café and wine bar’ to a ‘bar and eatery’.
A decision notice said planning permission had been conditionally granted for the change of use, but refused for Mr Hicks’s specific mobile catering unit plan due to its ‘adverse effect’ on neighbours.
“Customers want a more diverse offering of drinks and foods”
A planning document submitted by Mr Hicks said,
“The Compass opened in summer 2021. It was hoped for a Barista Café and Wine Bar to be the prominent trade of the business at 10/11 High Street however, customer needs and trends since opening have changed.
“Customers want a more diverse offering of drinks and foods, rather than just a café and wine focused bar.
“With greater market pressures and ever-changing customer needs and trends, this new class of usage for the outline areas will allow for The Compass to continue its business and be agile to the environment and industry it resides, whilst securing the employment of its employees.
“The Compass Bar hopes to invite offer businesses to its rear courtyard garden with their mobile kitchen units to trade their foods.”
IWC: Noise and odour from mobile catering units have the potential to impact negatively
A council report said,
“The proposed change of use of the premises and external courtyard areas from Sui Generis (Barista Café and Wine Bar) to Sui Generis (Bar and Eatery) would result in no impact on the character of the area.
“It is considered the proposed use of the building as a bar and eatery would not exacerbate the existing levels of noise and disturbance experienced by the residential occupants to an unacceptable degree.
“However, concerns have been raised by Environment Health in relation to the mobile catering unit. Noise and odour from mobile catering units have the potential to impact negatively on the amenity of neighbouring residential use.
“This is further complicated as it is the intention to change the food offer (and therefore the mobile kitchen) from time to time which is likely to mean different levels of odour and noise, depending on which mobile kitchen is present.
“Some cooking methods may result in smoke which would also be likely to impact on neighbouring amenity.”
Conditional permission
Two conditions attached to the approval were that the change of use is begun within three years of permission being granted and the bar’s permitted use is not open to customers outside of set times: 9am to 10pm, Mondays to Sundays including bank holidays.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
