PROPOSALS to create a cafe and outdoor seating terrace in a city centre Conservation Area have been refused.

An application to install a cafe on 138-140 Thornton Road, in the Goitside Conservation Area, was submitted by Christopher Thornburn this Summer.

The cafe would be a converted shipping container, and there would be parking for 26 cars.

The application said the plans would turn the site into a "small community hub."

But planning officers have now refused the development, which appears to already be partially constructed.

The vacant former workshop site, overlooked by the Hollins Mill building, was once earmarked for a nine storey retail and residential development, although that development never went ahead.

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Planning officers refused the application for the cafe earlier this month, saying the development would not be a good fit for the area.

Their report said: "The proposal is out of keeping with much of the Thornton Road frontage, which is lined by traditional stone buildings of a consistent form and scale, some 3-4 storeys in height with slate roofs.

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"These provide a strong and characterful definition to the edge of the conservation area.

"The proposed use and treatment of the site, predominantly for parking with a low rise single storey structure would not be consistent with the prevailing character of this key frontage. 

"The proposals would impede the proper regeneration and development of the site.

"The poor design of the building positioned on a prominent location would appear incongruous as seen from Thornton Road.

"The timber structure is visually jarring amongst the masonry surroundings, materially harming the visually amenities of the area."

Planning officers went on to say that the cafe "fails to provide adequate means of access for people with physical disabilities."