New micro bar in offing for empty shop as council approves change of use
A councillor has welcomed plans for another micro bar in Loftus, East Cleveland after change of use planning permission was granted by Redcar and Cleveland Council to convert an empty shop unit.
The property in Zetland Road previously hosted a bakers and café, while there were designs to operate a pizza takeaway from it which did not get off the ground.
It is directly next to an existing micro bar, Mad Alice’s, which opened in 2017, and is run by Loftus ward Councillor Tim Gray.
Cllr Gray said he hoped a few more boozers could create a circuit for people on a night out in the town and he did not see it as competition.
He said: “There are hopefully a couple of others going to open in the town so we can get Loftus back to what it was like years ago where we had people visiting from all the villages and all around.”
Cllr Gray referenced the recent opening of the Reunion bar and restaurant on the site of a former school in Loftus now being run by the former licensees at the Ship Inn in Saltburn, Lisa and Ian Burton.
He said: “It can be a hard one as a council, you get a couple of units and then someone else closes, it’s a constant battle.
“But coupled with the work going on in Loftus, in particular in Zetland Road and the crossroads area – from the just short of £13m that has been secured for the town previously – it can only go one way and it’s a bit like if you build it, they will come.”
Cllr Gray said a licence was being sought for the premises and could be approved next month, and the new bar could be eventually up to among up to a dozen venues in the area, from the likes of micro bars, a brewery tap, social club and music venue.
Referring to the new venture, he added: “He is an ex-Army guy who is opening a little bar and the more the merrier for me.”
A report said the change of use would not involve any external alterations with only limited alterations proposed internally.
Referring to the potential impacts on neighbours, it said: “Bars similar to the existing use as a hot food takeaway by their nature operate in the evening and therefore have the potential to generate noise associated with the activities of the operation.
“It is however noted that the unit is within an area that includes other late night uses, including hot food takeaways, while there are limited residential units in close proximity to the site.
“The applicants have suggested opening hours from 11am to 11pm each day which is considered to be acceptable for the location.”
A council environmental health officer did, however, recommend a condition relating to noise insulation due to the presence of a flat on the first floor of the building which was added to the permission.
No objections to the plans were received by the council from any consultees or members of the public.
The application was also considered to raise no concern in terms of highway safety or have a negative impact on the conservation area in Loftus.