Controversial Avon Beach huts extension bid set for decision

Avon Beach Ltd’s applications for the huts are both recommended for approval despite scores of objections to the plans from residents and the local authority’s highways department.

Councillors on BCP Council’s planning committee are due to meet to discuss both proposals on Thursday, February 17.

As reported, the applicant saw a combined single application for the retrospective element of retaining larger huts and the proposed extension of others refused by the committee in September last year – going against the planning officer’s recommendation.

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Planning committee members voted to refuse the combined scheme over the reduction in the width of the promenade being “unacceptable”.

Within weeks Avon Beach Ltd had put forward the separate applications.

The first is the retrospective application for the retention of beach huts 63 and 99, which were enlarged without permission.

The other proposal is to deliver a forward extension out onto the promenade of beach huts 23 to 62.

The beach huts in question at Avon Beach, Mudeford

BCP Council is the landowner of the promenade, however, Avon Beach Ltd is the leaseholder and the lease enables them to carry out development.

The retrospective application received 88 objections and 38 letters in support, while the proposed extension plans received 91 objections and four letters in support.

Christchurch Town Council submitted a formal objection to both applications.

In objecting to the applications, BCP Council’s highways department said it was now aware of the emerging seafront strategy and its team had carried out a further review of the operation and functioning of the promenade at Avon Beach.

The response from highways officer Alexis Edwards to both proposals said: “The proposed development, by reason of its extended size and further intrusion onto the promenade is considered to give rise to conditions prejudicial to local amenity.

“The promenade would be reduced to a substandard width to facilitate convenient, simultaneous, access for all thereby failing to help achieve the council’s strategic objective of facilitating and increasing levels of walking and cycling and compromising the existing route network.”

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However, planning officer Emma Wachiuri’s reports to the committee, which both recommend approval, said there was no planning policy requiring specified promenade width within the application site.

She added that “very limited” weight should be attached to the currently unadopted seafront strategy.

Ms Wachiuri’s report said: “Whilst it is recognised that the forward extension of the beach huts will reduce the space for people to use the promenade, there is no policy position or other material consideration evidence to support the necessary protection of a certain width of the promenade within the application site.

“There is therefore no direct evidence of the proposals unacceptably compromising the use of the promenade.”