Amusement arcade extension at The Arkade, Warren Road, Minehead

The site and surroundings

The building is a 1979 seafront property within the conservation area, with the conversion area at the rear.

“The existing property has three main elements, the main floor area, split level offices and a lower ground floor area that serves as ancillary space such as staff areas, offices, and storage. The property sits on a level with the seafront on ground level at the front. Due to the slight sloping nature of the land, the lower ground floor level also is also at the same level as the railway behind the building.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

A previous permission for the same development was granted in November 2025, but the application was resubmitted for a lawful committee decision.

“Accordingly, under the terms of the council’s constitution the Head of Planning/Chief Planning Officer does not benefit from delegated authority to determine such planning applications. The same applies where the applicant is an officer of the Council Due to an unfortunate oversight, planning permission was previously granted for the same development as proposed under the current application under reference 3/21/25/018, which was determined under delegated powers on Thursday…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to a legal agreement preventing implementation of the earlier permission and subject to conditions.

“Recommendation 1.1 Subject to the satisfactory completion of a s106 agreement including an obligation not to implement the planning permission previously granted on 20 November 2025”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

The proposal was considered acceptable because it supported an existing business and tourism without harming heritage, residential amenity, flood safety, ecology or highways.

“The impact on neighbouring residential amenity The site is located within a commercial area and is considered to be a small scale extension to the existing amusements and unlikely to create any additional noise or movements from the existing, therefore it is not considered to have an adverse impact upon the residential amenity 10.1.4 Flood risk The site is located within Flood Zones 2 & 3.”

“The use on the lower ground floor is to be storage and therefore considered to be ‘less vulnerable’, some of the lower ground floor area will be raised to ground floor to provide the extension to the amusement arcade and therefore there will be a reduction in floor area at lower ground floor. All of the proposal is considered to be less vulnerable.”

Officer report

Resident representations

No letters were received during the consultation.

“NA 7. Habitats Regulations Assessment NA 8. Consultation and Representations Statutory consultees (the submitted comments are available in full on the Council's website). Date of consultation: December 2025 8.2 Date of revised consultation (if applicable): NA 8.3 Press Date: December 2025 8.4 Site Notice Date: December 2025 8.5 Consultees the following were consulted: Consultee Comment Officer Comment Minehead Town Council No comment Environment Agency Standing…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The planning officer introduced the application, and the applicant addressed the committee.

What members discussed

Councillors discussed the need for public toilets, noting that the toilets had been closed for several years and were no longer in council ownership.

“The Committee were invited to discuss the application, and the following points were discussed:”

“Councillors were concerned about the need for public toilets in the area. However, Councillors noted that the toilets had been closed for several years and are no longer in the Council’s possession.”

Minutes

The vote

Councillor Pugsley proposed approval, Councillor Cavill seconded it, and the vote was unanimous in favour.

“Following discussions, Councillor Pugsley proposed that the application be granted permission as per officers’ recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor Cavill.”

“Having been duly proposed and seconded, The Committee resolved to: agree the officers’ recommendation to:”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted delegated authority to approve the application subject to the legal agreement and the conditions in the officers’ recommendation.

“Give delegated authority to the Head of Planning and Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee, to GRANT planning permission subject to the satisfactory completion of a s106 agreement that includes an obligation not to implement the planning permission previously granted on 20 November 2025 under planning application reference 3/21/25/018 and subject to the conditions detailed within the officers’ report.”

Minutes