Councillors welcome plans for village Pizza Hut branch

Adur District Council’s planning committee approved plans to change the vacant former NatWest bank building, in North Street, into a hot food takeaway.

Documents submitted with the application by Southern Creations discussed the intention for Pizza Hut to move in.

Manor ward councillor Carol Albury, who welcomed the plans, said: “A lot of research and thought had gone into the setting up of this. After two years of the property being empty I’m delighted to see this being taken on and renovated.”

The application attracted support of more than 50 residents and businesses, with a series of templated letters submitted to the council’s planning portal.

They read: “I am signing up to demonstrate my support for (a) new business bringing employment and commerce to my local area of Lancing.

“I am in favour of more jobs being brought to our area and support a food delivery restaurant opening and bringing jobs to my local area and investing in my local economy.”

In contrast, the council received five objections to the scheme.

They centred on parking, noise, odours and questions over whether Lancing already had enough takeaways.

A report to the committee noted the council’s senior environmental health officer’s concern that delivery vehicle movements would create a ‘significant and fairly persistent noise source’.

A condition added to the planning permission, accepted by the applicant, will mitigate the impact, ensuring no delivery vehicles will use the rear car park after 6pm.

A further condition will see last orders taken at 11pm, with all activity on site to be ceased by midnight.

Frances Smith, of Lancing Regeneration, said: “It is a shame it is not a sit down restaurant, which is really needed but nevertheless it is one less big empty property. It is excellent news.”

Pointing to further good news for the high street, she added: “La Sosta, in Queen’s Way, is also set to reopen and a greengrocers is opening on the high street.”