Café opening hours at Pump House Environment Centre, Worcester

What was proposed

The application sought to vary an existing condition so the café could open from 7am to 9pm every day throughout the year.

“This application, submitted under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), seeks to vary condition 7 attached to planning permission 24/00756/FUL which states:”

“Monday –Fridays – 7am until 6pm (or until 9pm between 1 June and 31 August) • Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays – 7am until 6pm, (or until 9pm between 1 June and 31 August) • On no more than 6 days in any one calendar year the premises may remain open for customers until 10pm.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The café occupies a former waterworks building in a park, within the Riverside Conservation Area and identified as a locally listed building.

“The application site comprises the Kynd Folk Café, which was the former waterworks building, located in the western side of Gheluvelt Park, Barbourne, near to the eastern bank of the River Severn. The building dates from 1857, and has a grand, yet functional appearance. It is a ‘locally listed’ building (a non-designated heritage asset) and lies within the Riverside Conservation Area. The café has been operational since February 2025.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Two objections mentioned parking, noise and cooking smells, while the highway authority and regulatory services raised no objection.

“Neighbours and other third-party comments Two third party objections have been received on grounds relating to the following matters: • Impact on Parking should the free council car become chargeable. • Impact on neighbouring amenity due to increase in the hours of noise and cooking smells.”

“Worcestershire County Council (Highway Authority): Worcestershire County Council acting in its role as the Highway Authority has undertaken a full assessment of this planning application. Based on the appraisal of the development proposals, the Transport Planning and Development Management Team Leader on behalf of the County Council, under Article 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order, 2015 has no objection.”

Officer report

What the applicants said

The applicants said the extended hours had worked well, would support classes and gatherings, and would be managed through existing covered areas and extraction.

“The applicants responded to questions from Committee Members, in particular the types of events held at the Pump House and its future expansion plans. The applicants stated that the community room, upstairs in the building, is used by various classes during the day. They are requesting to hold classes outside of the current opening hours, hence the request to extend these hours.”

“Reference was made to a third-party objection related to impact of the increase in the hours of noise and cooking smells. The applicants confirmed that there were covered areas at the rear which would mitigate any ambient noise pollution. With regard to the smell, extraction already exists in the building and that is regularly maintained.”

Minutes

Who spoke

Two co-directors of the applicant company spoke for the applicants and answered committee questions about events, classes and future plans.

Committee discussion

Members welcomed the proposal and agreed to amend the first condition after officers clarified that an existing limit should be included.

“The Service Manager - Development Management, as a point of clarification, stated that there was a paragraph missing at the end of condition 1. This should state on no more than six days within the calendar year the premises may remain open for customers until 10pm. To be agreed as part of the Officer’s recommendation or any proposal by Committee Members.”

“Committee Members welcomed the proposal and agreed to the amendment of condition 1.”

Minutes

The vote

The committee approved the proposal unanimously, with eleven votes for, none against and no abstentions.

“A proposal to approve the application had been made and this was seconded. There being no further points made the Chair requested the voting of each Member of the Committee who were eligible to vote. Following the recording of the votes the proposal was agreed as recommended, with the amendment to condition 1 as above.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to the report conditions and the amendment to the first condition.

“RESOLVED That the Committee grant planning permission, subject to the conditions set out in section 9 of the report and to the amendment of condition 1.”

Minutes