Hove restaurant granted permission to stay

A restaurant has been granted planning permission two years after it opened.

Persia in Church Road, Hove, started trading two years ago even though Brighton and Hove City Council turned down a planning application for a change of use from a shop.

At the time councillors were concerned about an entire block of businesses converting into restaurants on what was a bustling shopping street.

The application, which included changes to the shop front and ducting, was also refused on appeal in April 2019.

But the planning inspector did not oppose the principle of turning the shop premises into a restaurant.

Labour councillor Clare Moonan spoke on behalf of residents in her Central Hove ward who opposed the change of use when the latest application went before the council’s Planning Committee onWednesday (July 8).

She said: “There has been a slow shift away from retail towards more restaurants and cafés.