Oasis Cafe plans for new holiday let on seafront
Vacant restaurant site ‘not viable’ says owner
A popular Scarborough cafe has unveiled plans to convert a vacant restaurant space into a holiday let on the North Bay’s seafront.
The Oasis Cafe takeaway, which is nestled into the foreshore on Royal Albert Drive, has applied to transform the first floor into a self-contained holiday let and create a mezzanine for two new bedrooms.
Applicant and owner Ron Ford said although the business has been “very successful”, the upstairs restaurant has struggled to be financially viable and has been closed for years.
During the consultation period, the plans received just one objection which questioned the precedent set if the application is allowed to proceed.
The objector said the site “is part of open public gardens and not the right place for such a development”.
They added: “There should be no accommodation built on Marine Drive – holiday or residential. This could be the start of many applications. Where would it end?”
However, a report prepared by Scarborough Council’s planning officers recommends that the plans are approved when councillors meet today at the Spa’s Grand Hall.
The Highway Authority raised no objections to the plans, which adds that one of the cafe’s existing three staff car parking spaces will be specifically designated for the new holiday let, with no wider impact on the seafront’s parking.
Scarborough Council’s Environmental Health team raised no objections in principle.
The application also states that any new developments will fit within the existing footprint of the building with no extension or exterior alterations.
As part of the work, the existing ground-floor cafe and seating areas will be retained.
The officer’s report said the Oasis Cafe makes “a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the North Bay area” and that the change of use would not affect the conservation area as the building would not be altered externally.