Restaurant idea for old library
DEREHAM's former library could become the town's second-largest Indian restaurant.The Church Street building has been left shut and unloved for a number of years since the new library was opened in High Street.
DEREHAM's former library could become the town's second-largest Indian restaurant.
The Church Street building has been left shut and unloved for a number of years since the new library was opened in High Street.
It has seen a row over its redevelopment, has failed to sell on the open market despite having planning permission for 10 flats, and the site is becom-ing ever more overgrown.
But now the owner of the Bombay restaurant in Norwich Street, Jamal Shah, wants to buy it from Norfolk County Council and turn it into a
200 sq m restaurant, bar and lounge with takeaway.
Breckland Council devel-opment control committee is to consider whether to grant planning consent on Monday.
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Last month, plans for another Indian restaurant were thrown out by the same committee amid concerns about its proximity to a residential area.
Muhammad Ali, from Norwich, had wanted to turn to former Dereham Glass showroom in London Road into a restaurant and takeaway.
Mr Shah's plan is also facing objections, according to a report to the committee. These include noise, smells, unsoc-iable hours, insufficient parking, over-supply of restau-rants and takeaways, litter and possible anti-social behaviour.
However, officers say a suitable extraction system could avoid smells and that the town centre location and other nearby entertainment premises and ability to restrict opening hours mean the impact would not be any more significant than the present situation. Over-supply of restaurants is not a relevant planning consideration, they argue.
The committee is being advised to approve the plan subject to conditions being imposed.
