Application for change of use to A3 (food and drink) at a former shop

Application Ref.: 06/01926/F
Date Received: 15/05/2006
Address: 3 Waterloo Street Clifton Bristol BS8 4BT
Proposal: Change of use of property from shop (Use Class A1) to restaurant (Use Class A3) for use as extension to existing restaurant at 10 The Mall.
Status: Application REFUSED

The past decade has seen a rapid growth in large pubs and café-bars. This has been facilitated by a substantial expansion in class A3 change of use applications being made enabling cafes and bars to serve alcohol. Many have opened in areas that were formerly either residential or residential and shopping areas.

This can change the character of such areas considerably due to the increased evening use, generating noise and disturbance that is associated with high levels of activity. In the case of the wider Clifton area of Bristol, the City Council investigated concerns raised by residents and local businesses and issued guidance to limit future large scale developments in the that area. The above application was to extend licensed premises into an adjacent property which formerly only had A1 retail permission. Consistent with the revised guidance, permission for this change of use was rejected.