Permission is being sought by a free standing unit outside one of Southport’s oldest restaurants to provide outdoor food and drinks for customers.
Dolce Vita al Fresco sits outside the iconic Dolce Vita restaurant, which has been at 90 Station Road at the heart of Ainsdale Village since 1986.
RAL Architects in Southport has submitted a planning application to Sefton Council asking to keep the structure, either on a permanent or a short-term basis.
The firm says the additional space can better serve customers in the warmer months as well as creating three new jobs in Ainsdale.
In their submission, they said: “Dolce Vita, a long established restaurant in the centre of the commercial area of Ainsdale Village, have constructed a small free standing unit at the front of the restaurant, within the demise of the restaurant and set back from the public footpath.
“The prefabricated building sits on the existing hard surfaced ground with timber battens used to level the building.
“It has no foundations allowing it to be easily removed in the future once services have been disconnected.
“The building is designed to provide service to the small sitting area to the front of the restaurant where customers can order drinks and light bites during the summer months and sit outside … al Fresco.
“The unit is intended to function only between March and October and will therefore be closed from November to February.
“When open the facility will open at 9am for coffee and hot drinks and the kiosk will be closed at 9pm every day.
“The facility will provide 3 jobs when open.
“The unit has been constructed without planning approval and this is therefore a retrospective application to regularise the installation.
“Whilst intended to be a permanent feature the applicant would agree to a planning approval being time limited to 5 years with a further application being required should the applicant want to retain the kiosk beyond this time period.
“The applicant has consulted neighbours widely and there have been no concerns raised, including from Ainsdale Village Church next door. The use is consistent with the central village location and there are many bars with outdoor seating and service in close proximity to Dolce Vita.
The unit is of high quality and appropriate in the street scene. The use is consistent with the central village location and with surrounding uses.”
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