A RESTAURANT in Christchurch has submitted an application to retain parts of its outdoor decking.

The Boathouse already has permission for a large part of its decking, but there are areas of it that have not yet been approved.

The application claims these areas, found on the western side of the building, are “indistinguishable” from the lawful areas, and are “viewed as being part of the decking as a whole”.

It also talks about the areas being beneficial throughout and after the Covid pandemic.

The planning statement submitted to BCP Council reads: “It is common knowledge that food and drink establishments have suffered due to the lockdown associated with the Covid pandemic.

“Whilst those restrictions are lifting, the sector is still in recovery. It is likely that as we live with Covid for many years, some customers will still be wary of indoor seating. The small areas of decking allow for outdoor seating and movement around those seating areas.

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“Retention of them supports recovery of this important business and employer, and also offers the business an opportunity to serve the needs of customers who do not wish to avail themselves at that time to the indoor seated element of the restaurant.”

The application also emphasises that the areas only take up a small proportion of the overall site area of the property and that they “effectively infill existing outdoor seating areas”.

The Boathouse has been subject to various planning applications over the course of its use as a restaurant, for various alterations and extensions.

In May, a retrospective planning application was granted to keep a caravan offering a takeaway service in the outdoor space of its premises.

The Boathouse had installed the mobile outdoor serving facility in March last year as a replacement from the kiosk that was on the site from the start of the Covid pandemic.

The application also argued that the facility had been beneficial throughout Covid, and would continue to provide an outdoor alternative for concerned customers.