A MEETING will take place over plans to extend a beach front restaurant in Christchurch.

The "frustrated" owners of the Noisy Lobster at Avon Beach have called the meeting on Sunday July 31 to discuss their plans to extend up into the first floor of the cafe.

Previous applications to extend and renovate the popular eatery in Mudeford have led to criticisms about overdevelopment from residents.

The latest application seeks to extend the restaurant upstairs, across the length of the building, to provide an extra 46 covers.

It follows a similar proposal earlier this year also asking for an external terrace, although the plans were later withdrawn.

The terrace has been removed from the current plans.

Residents are concerned that a prime view of the Needles from the cliff top would be lost, as the first floor is extended onto a current flat roof.

But the directors of Avon Beach Ltd and the Noisy Lobster, the Hayward family, said they were "frustrated" by accusations of over development.

In a statement to the Daily Echo, they said permission for the work was originally granted in 1993 but not carried out by the previous tenants.

"We had to carry them out to provide a kitchen, wash up area and toilets to satisfy health and safety standards", they said in a statement to the Daily Echo.

"We are not increasing the footprint whatsoever so how can this be over development?

"We have carefully designed this first floor extension to be the same height and material finish as the existing, at the same time covering a very unattractive flat roof area when approached from the Avon Run Car Park."

They say the application is 'driven by public demand'.

"We are fortunate to be tenants of this premier Christchurch beach location and are duty bound to provide a first class facility.

"From our experience of running this business for three-and-a-half-years we desperately need this additional area to satisfy demand.

"With ever increasing overheads of rent, rates, wages, utilities etc. etc. under our business plan this extension is of paramount importance."

Between 10-15 jobs will be created, the planning application states.

Residents have until August 1 to comment on the plans.

The meeting on July 31 will start at 7pm.