REVISED plans to create a large glass extension at a popular restaurant have been given the go-ahead despite fears it would change the character of an historic part of Worcester.
Burgoyne Property Investments’ bid to expand Bindles Brasserie and Bar in Sidbury appeared to be in doubt when members of Worcester City Council’s planning committee raised a number of concerns at a meeting last month.
The developer was forced to go back to the drawing board and their efforts to scale down the extension, which would be situated off City Walls Road, paid off as the committee voted in favour of it last Thursday (November 13).
Phillip Rawle, who was speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the move means it would go from 40 covers to 32, while he also said they had “significantly reduced” the size of the roof terrace.
But the project still faced opposition from some councillors and Fran Fosh, who owns neighbouring business Charlie’s Café.
Miss Fosh said she has had a series of problems with the restaurant since it opened and believed the extension was “unnecessary”.
“If I felt there was enough demand I would be applying to extend myself,” she said. “I welcome competition, but I speak for the residents of Sidbury who do not want this to happen.”
The council’s own Conservation Area Advisory Committee also opposed to the scheme as it said the extension would be “visually obtrusive on a major road”, which was one of the reasons why Coun Robert Rowden objected to the plans.
Coun David Wilkinson felt the developer had addressed concerns expressed at the last meeting, but admitted he was not satisfied with the changes made to the extension.
“The glass box is fine as a feature, but the minute you make it the main event I think it crosses a line in terms of design,” he said. “I don’t think the applicant has done anything significantly to resolve that particular issue.”
Coun Lynn Denham, councillor for the area, added: “I am still against this as it is totally out of keeping with Sidbury.
“It does not fit into the conservation area at all and it is being built on a small but important piece of public realm. It would look terrible.”
However, the rest of the committee voted in favour of it as Coun Jo Hodges said: “The area of Sidbury is very different from how it used to be, so I think we have to accept this.
“I was concerned at the last meeting about noise, but I am happy the reduction in the size of the roof terrace will address that considerably.
“I think the proposed building will fit in with what is a different Sidbury now.”
