Four storage containers at The Beach House Cafe Mudeford Sandbank, Bournemouth

What was proposed

The application sought to extend permission for four food-and-refreshment storage containers from three years to five years, expiring in December 2027.

“Planning permission is sought to alter condition 1 and 2 of temporary planning permission P/25/01461/FUL. Condition 1 imposed a time limit of 3 years for the temporary consent, and this application seeks to extend the temporary consent for a further 2 years. This would result in a total duration of the permission to 5 years with an expiry date of 22 nd December 2027. 3.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The café is on Mudeford Sandbank beside beach huts, a ferry jetty and public toilets, within flood zone 3a.

“Description of Site and Surroundings 5. The application site is located on Mudeford Sandbank. The Beach House faces onto Christchurch Harbour on the western side. On the eastern side, beach huts sit immediately to the rear on the seaward side. There are further beach huts on the northern and southern sides, with the huts extending the full length of the Spit, to Hengistbury Head to the south and Mudeford Quay to the north. 6.”

“This area is the subject of a planning enforcement investigation and is not part of this application. The approval of this application would not authorise the development. The area is within the redline of the café site. The applicant has confirmed that this area has been removed to begin the implementation of the 7-2021-11229-P to ensure this application stays valid and can still be implemented in the future.”

Officer report

Consultation and objections

Consultees raised no objections subject to conditions, while 38 objection comments concerned the duration, toilets, antisocial behaviour, licensing and beach hut amenity.

“Representations 38. Site notices were posted in the vicinity of the application site with and expiry date for consultation of 14/11/2025. 39. Objection comments have been received, of which at least 10 are within the 1-mile radius of the site and the majority of the comments are from beach hut owners. A letter of objection was also received from a solicitor on behalf of the Mudeford Sandbank Beach Hut Association. 40.”

“Impacts to neighbouring beach hut owners’ amenity • The new conditions on the recent approved application (P/25/01461/FUL) should be required now. • Antisocial behaviour resulting from the current operation needs to be addressed. • The application is not valid as it is submitted under section 73 of the Town and Country Act it should be applied for under section 73A. 43.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector represented the beach hut association, the agent and applicant supported the application, and a ward councillor spoke in support.

The committee vote

Members granted permission in line with the officer recommendation, with eight votes for, none against and one abstention.

“RESOLVED to GRANT permission in accordance with the recommendation set out in the officer’s report as updated by the Committee Addendum dated 21.1.26”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted for the variation of conditions concerning the continued use and removal or reuse of the four containers.

“Variation of conditions 1 and 2 of Planning Application 7-2021-11229-N To change period of continued use and conditions of the removal Use of land for the temporary siting of 4 storage containers in connection with the existing use of the site for the sale and consumption of food & refreshments - Existing unauthorised.”

Minutes