Alternative Beach House Cafe plan at Mudeford Sandbank tabled

Project Beach House seeking permission for a building that will offer more than the “outdated, inefficient and ad-hoc’ complex that previously occupied the Beach House Café site at Mudeford Sandbank.

BCP Council has already secured planning permission for a like-for-like rebuild after the former premises was destroyed by a fire in 2018.

The local authority’s initial large redevelopment plans for the site were slammed by residents. This led to the council going back to the drawing board and settling on a basic replacement plan.

• Read more: New plan unveiled for Mudeford Sandbank's Beach House Cafe

However, the leaseholders of the site believe an alternative plan would make better use of the available space.

A statement submitted by DMW Architects on behalf of the applicant said the scheme had been designed to replicate the shape of the beach huts found lined-up along the sand spit.

“The cafe design draws upon the geometry, scale, height and rhythm of the surrounding beach huts to ensure it will have a strong relationship with its immediate neighbours but also to present a congruous and characteristic form when viewed from the surrounding Green Belt and SSSI (site of special scientific interest),” the architect said.

CGI of the alternative plans. Picture: DMW Architects

Since the fire in November 2018, a temporary set up has been in place using a series of converted shipping containers and food vans

The Project Beach House team, which includes the leaseholder of the site, unveiled their plans in January and invited comments from residents.

Illustrative image of the plans viewed from the ferry. Picture: DMW Architects

“The design has been developed to respond to the site, landscape and neighbouring context, to ultimately provide a unique, innovative and environmentally responsible new facility,” DMW Architects’ statement added.

“It is our belief our design demonstrates how we have understood the effect and significance of our proposal within the context of the surrounding landscape and that this development is sympathetic in terms of density, scale, character and layout.

“The new building will be an asset to the site, visitors and to the wider community.”

• Read more: Date set for Beach House Cafe rebuild years on from fire

Residents have until May 13 to comment on the scheme on the council’s planning portal.

A sketch of the inside of the designs for the redevelopment of the Beach House Cafe. Picture: DMW Architects

Talks have taken place between Project Beach House and BCP Council over pursuing the alternative plan rather than the like-for-like scheme.

BCP Council said it could review its current stance if planning permission is secured.

At present, the local authority is due to start construction on replacing the Beach House Café in September 2022 after obtaining planning approval on the like-for-like proposal in October last year.

• Read more: Beach House Cafe alternative plan consultation 'shows support'

Rich Slater, Project Beach House project manager, said: “We’ve seen an overwhelming amount of support from the public for these plans, but we need the council to see this support too, so we’re asking people for their help to get this great opportunity moving forward and over the planning hurdle.”