A wine bar faces objections to its plans for a retractable canopy over its rear courtyard.
Paris Wine Bar, in Church Road, Hove, has submitted a planning application – part-retrospective – for a replacement boundary fence already in place and to fit a retractable canopy.
The bar is in a grade II listed building in The Avenues Conservation Area and close to the Cliftonville and Willett Estates Conservation Areas.
Officials have recommended that Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee refuse permission because the development would cause “significant harm” to the historic buildings.
A report by officials in the council’s planning team said that it would introduce an “alien, incongruous structure” to the rear yard.
The council has turned down applications to extend the building at the rear a number of times – in 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2020 – because of the historic nature of the building.
Bar owner Elvis Kiri, 39, was issued with a listed building enforcement notice in 2022 for a timber rear extension with a canopy roof.
Mr Kiri appealed against the decision but his appeal was rejected and he was ordered to remove everything by June last year.
The canopy was removed but the walls remain, with a “tent-like” canopy installed over the rear yard.
Mr Kiri has submitted a fresh application with the help of his agent, Courtney Darby, director of Darby Architectural.
His latest application said that previous applications were “undermined due to insufficient information, lack of detail and various inaccuracies”.
The application said: “Previous applications for works at this site have misrepresented the proposal as an ‘extension’ and it has been inaccurately assessed as such.
“However, this is not an extension. It is a garden area with a retractable canopy that simply opens and closes to accommodate the unpredictable British weather.
“The proposal has been undermined by misrepresentation in earlier applications, featuring significantly inaccurate statements in supporting documents and vague, inadequate drawings.”
Mr Kiri said that the structures detailed in his planning application were not attached to the listed building and did not affect the conservation area.
Eleven people have sent comments in support of the proposals.
The council should start and look at the listed structures it takes care of, they are falling to bits.
This bar is very well run the structure can’t be seen from the street and gives the complex a chance be viable. There are other structures that are on the front of buildings in the area that look a mess the council should concentrate on them.
Ridiculous reasoning and decision making from the planning authority. It’s clearly not an extension but a temporary retractable shelter from the weather that improves the viability of the business. Can’t think what the fuss is about, seems someone in the planning department has taken it personally.
Council should focus their efforts on the western road vape shops who clearly don’t have planning permission and are actually selling fake goods
It is a fabulous space enjoyed my many and harms no-one. Helps an independent local business thrive and survive. We have enough closed commercial premises on Hove streets. The killjoys should turn their attentions to the things that really matter in this city. Myopia and narrow mindedness is the affliction that sets this city back.