Café and bar changes at 9 Egerton Crescent, Manchester

What was proposed

The application sought changes to six conditions covering opening hours, outdoor seating, external equipment, refuse, boundary treatment and noise.

“Proposal Variation of conditions 3 (hours of opening), 5 (outdoor seating), 7 (external equipment), 8 (refuse), 9 (boundary wall), and 10 (noise) attached to planning permission 123650/FO/2019”

“The applicant is seeking to vary conditions 3 (hours of opening), 5 (outdoor seating), 7 (external equipment), 8 (refuse), 9 (boundary wall), and 10 (noise) attached to planning permission 123650/FO/2019 at No.9 Egerton Crescent. The property is not listed; however, it is situated within the Withington Conservation Area.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The café and bar occupies a building in a mixed residential and commercial street within Withington District Centre and the conservation area.

“The application site is located along a street that is mixed in terms of its character, predominantly consisting of terraced and semi-detached residential dwellinghouses and flat conversions in addition to commercial units, such as the neighbouring post office, and a large area of hardstanding used for parking. Egerton Crescent is located off Wilmslow Road, Withington’s main commercial high street, and is bounded to the south by Parsonage Road.”

“The application relates to the building known as No.9 Egerton Crescent which features a café and bar use at ground floor level. Constructed of redbrick with a grey slate dual pitch roof, the property features a mixture of white uPVC and grey aluminium-framed windows, with a large, glazed cream-coloured shopfront with roller shutters, a retractable awning, and a small outdoor seating area to the front.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, subject to conditions, because the proposal would regularise outstanding matters, protect amenity and support the district centre.

“Principle – the principle of applying to vary conditions 3 (hours of opening), 5 (outdoor seating), 7 (external equipment), 8 (refuse), 9 (boundary wall), and 10 (noise) attached to planning permission 123650/FO/2019 is acceptable given that this would address and regularise a number of outstanding conditions attached to the original consent whilst also enabling a local business situated within Withington District Centre to thrive and flourish.”

“Conclusion – given the above issues and subject to the aforementioned details being secured via condition, it is considered that the proposal is acceptable in terms of its principle, appearance, impact upon the visual and residential amenity of the area, the character and significance of the conservation area, waste management, and noise, overcoming and regularising a number of outstanding conditions attached to the original consent 123650/FO/2019.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways raised no objection, while Environmental Health supported the principle of longer hours but required more information about noise levels and frequency bands.

“Highways Services made no objection to the proposal, however indicated that condition 4 of 123650/FO/2019 relating to hours of deliveries, servicing and collections should continue to be adhered to. The seating area is within the red-line boundary of the site and, as such, will not impinge upon the adopted highway. The proposal would also not have an impact on the external highway network.”

“Environmental Health raised concerns in relation to the original proposal on the basis that a number of conditions attached to the original consent 123650/FO/2019, including acoustics conditions relating to noise breakout from the premises, remained outstanding. They indicated that acoustic reports and information on the management of noise from the building should be required.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The applicant and objectors were absent; a councillor acknowledged local support and asked about the deadline for further noise information.

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application after a councillor moved the officer recommendation and another councillor seconded it.

“Councillor Shaukat Ali moved the Officer’s recommendation.”

“The Committee resolved to approve the application.”

Minutes