A small Co-Op shop in Kemp Town will almost double in size by extending into the former restaurant next door.
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the Co-op’s planning application to take over the former 24 restaurant in St George’s Road.
East Brighton ward councillor Nancy Platts spoke on behalf of people living above and to the back of the Co-op on the corner of College Place.
She said that one or two were concerned that if they did not support the application then the former restaurant would be left vacant and the courtyard at the back would continue to be neglected.
Councillor Platts said: “This is a large-scale development in what is considered a village area.
“Small businesses are concerned it will take aware their trade.
“It is quite a narrow street and there are concerns about increased deliveries (and) increased noise to residents.”
Neighbours have complained about bakers’ cages left in the street.
Councillor Platts, the Labour leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, told the council’s Planning Committee that she had complained, as had neighbours, and the council’s highways department had asked store bosses to remove them.
However, they remained in the street.
After the decision Councillor Platts said: “Residents living above the Co-op in St George’s Road will be disappointed by today’s planning decision.
“It was worrying that some of the councillors’ questions about how many residents had been spoken to and how many flats are above the store could not be fully answered at today’s committee.
“I hope that the Co-op will take great care in consulting the owners of the flats and listening to their concerns before proceeding with their scheme.”
Co-op’s town planning manager Chris Edge agreed that the bakers’ cages were an issue but there was nowhere to store them in the shop. He said that the proposed extension would give staff somewhere to store them.
Mr Edge told the Planning Committee at Hove Town Hall that the current shop was too small. He said: “Currently it is very cramped and not fit for purpose.
The Co-Op fellow told me that it will take five months to knock the two buildings into one. Perhaps in that time people will find elsewhere to shop.
And now I hear Lloyds, our only bank, is closing. Scared for myself and other small independent local shops during all this chaos.