Town with 'too many coffee shops' could get two new restaurants

Proposals have been approved for a restaurant in the former Barclays bank site in Christchurch High Street.

And opposite, at the empty William Hill bookmakers, a pizza restaurant could be opening.

Read more: Too many coffee shops in town centre, says coffee shop owner

The scheme to change Barclays Bank into a restaurant has been approved by planners, with a separate proposal for works on the front of a building yet to be decided.

As part of these plans, a heritage statement to planning officers at BCP said the new shop front "will not cause any material harm to the setting of the listed buildings as the existing setting or the High Street, street scene."

It adds: "The style of the existing building currently on site is not unique to Christchurch.

Plans for the former Barclays Bank in Christchurch High Street

"While it may be part of the history of the town and have some meaning to local residents, there is no substantive evidence that it played an important role in the development of the surrounding townscape, is part of the identity of the town, or that the value of similar buildings elsewhere is strongly affected by the existence of this one.

Read more: Coffee#1 won an appeal to open a new shop in Christchurch

"As such it can be argued that the building has low significance overall as a heritage asset."

It is not yet known what type of restaurant will be going into the building.

Former Barclays Bank in Christchurch High Street

On the opposite side of the road, at the former William Hill betting shop, an application has been lodged to transform the building into a pizza restaurant.

The application has been lodged by the owner of Eat Pizza in Lymington, an artisan pizza restaurant which also sells craft beer.

The only material changes to the building will be air conditioning units, the application says.

A decision is yet to be made on the proposal.

Former William Hill premises in Christchurch High Street

In 2018, a local cafe owner set up a petition saying there were too many cafes in Christchurch.

It was sparked by plans for a new Coffee#1 venue at the former Shoe Zone store in the High Street.

The owner of the former Baggies started set-up the petition claiming the town was already inundated with too many food outlets.

And despite the council refusing the application, Coffee#1 were given permission on appeal to open.

However, in July last year, a Lewis Manning charity shop opened at the store.

Baggies has now closed and replaced by Maw, a breakfast and brunch eatery.