A SEAFRONT restaurant in Bournemouth which has been closed since a large fire has secured approval for an extension.

Popular venue Hot Rocks at Pier Approach tabled the development proposals with BCP Council for a first-floor back office over the storage area at the rear of the site.

A report by a local authority planning officer said the applicant recently secured planning permission for a like-for-like replacement of the ground floor rear extension which houses the store area.

Assessing the proposed first-floor extension, the officer said: “The local planning authority would generally seek to avoid two-storey flat-roofs in such locations.

“However, the existing main roof would pose positive design integration issues with any shaped extension roof tying in. The extension is not over-sized, and the siting is relatively discrete.”

The application was approved by officers under delegated powers.

As reported, Hot Rocks is undergoing a major refurbishment after a large fire caused severe damage to the restaurant in October last year.

The new design for the venue is said to be inspired by South American influences.

Last month, a post on Facebook by Hot Rocks said a reopening date was not currently known.

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