Fish and chip shop destroyed by fire to be rebuilt

Twins Lisa and Tracy Connellan are regular visitors to the Southwold harbour area and they were delighted to hear of the planning approval.

The owners of a fish and chip shop destroyed in a large fire have been told they can rebuild it.

Members of East Suffolk Council’s planning committee north unanimously approved plans by the Sole Bay Fish Company to restore the building in Blackshore Quay, Southwold.

The restaurant and the neighbouring Mrs T's Fish and Chips caught fire in May last year after several gas cylinders exploded.

Visitors and residents have welcomed the planning approval and said the harbour area needed businesses like fish and chip shops to be back up and running.

Mrs T's Fish and Chips, along with a neighbouring restaurant owned by the Sole Bay Fish Company, were destroyed during a large fire at Southwold Harbour last May

Twins Lisa and Tracy Connellan are regular visitors to the harbour area and they were delighted to hear of the planning approval.

Lisa said: "We come from London every year with our parents and family and we used to come here for fish and chips and it was really sad when the fire happened so I think it would be lovely for the area if the restaurant was to be rebuilt."

Tracy said: "It's about a sense of community and bringing people down to the harbour and there needs to be reasons to come down here so anything that helps tourism here is really crucial."

After plans for a temporary indoor dining space at Sole Bay Fish Company were approved in November by East Suffolk Council, a new scheme "for the full reinstatement of the restaurant footprint" was submitted in May.

The planning statement read: "Although (previous) planning approval offered help with the takeaway and restaurant, it has been decided that a fuller re-establishment of the building and business activity would be a more suitable solution, creating less disruption to the business and the local area, along with establishing a more suitable long-term outcome for all parties.

"The planning approval is important in creating a viable continuation of this very important business in the tourist location of Southwold."

The application was approved subject to certain conditions including a stipulation that development would begin within three years of permission being granted.