Sidmouth Rockfish set for go-ahead as plans recommended for approval

Popular seafood restaurant Rockfish's plans to take over and transform a redundant Sidmouth seafront site are set to given the go-ahead.

Mitch Tonks' chain wish to convert the historic Drill Hall site at the end of Sidmouth seafront into a new restaurant, and their bid is being recommended for approval.

The restaurant will operate in the same successful formula as the other Rockfish restaurants in Dartmouth, Plymouth, Torquay, Exmouth, Plymouth, Weymouth and Exeter, and investment into the Sidmouth project will be in excess of £1m and there will be the creation of 30-40 local jobs, if the plans are approved.

East Devon District Council's cabinet last year unanimously decided to select Rockfish's bid as their preferred bid for the redevelopment and renewal of Drill Hall.

And council planners, when they meet on Tuesday, February 4, are recommended to grant planning permission to convert the building into a restaurant.

Recommending approval, the report says: "The Drill Hall is a historic building on Sidmouth Seafront which has been vacant for a number of years. The proposal seeks to convert the building to a restaurant and introduce a balcony, an outside seating area to the side, a new extension to the rear.

"Following a period of marketing for the building, for which there was no interest in its existing use, a commercial proposal for a fish restaurant is considered to be acceptable on the seafront as it will retain the most important features of the building whilst retaining public access and increasing activity around a water related enterprise.

"The proposal is considered to reflect policies within the Neighbourhood Plan that support commercial properties in this location that reflect the fishing and coastal history and with retained linkages to the town centre.

"The use would be sympathetic to neighbouring uses and would retain the historic value of the building and bringing the building back into use is a positive for the area and local economy."

When the plans were submitted last summer, Mr Tonks said: "The Drill Hall is a unique site that has been empty for a long time, it has the most unique features that we are looking to retain and enhance as part of our scheme so as we can bring the building back to its former glory.

"Sidmouth is a wonderful seaside town that fits our ethos of fresh fish being eaten by the sea and if our application is successful, we are very much looking forward to making Rockfish Sidmouth a leading seafood destination and a community asset."

The exterior of the building will be designed to look like a working fishing building that is sympathetic with the neighbouring sailing club, RNLI & trawler agents, and council planners have said it is not considered to detract from the character or appearance of the area or Conservation Area and will result in a building that will lift the area.

Sidmouth town council have backed the plans, as has Cllr Cathy Gardner, who said: "Regeneration of the area by this restaurant will be welcomed by the community."

Fellow ward councillor Stuart Hughes also added that this was great news for Sidmouth when the plans were revealed.

He said: "Rockfish 'ticks all the boxes' and is a 'win-win' for Sidmouth due our town's fishing heritage. They have an excellent set up and will be a draw for lots of people and encourage more visitors to visit our wonderful town.

"The Exmouth site is fabulous and they use sustainably caught fish, local where possible and with the Bagwells local fishmongers they won't need to look too far.

"If they are sympathetically renovating The Drill Hall, it also gives an opportunity for the fishing heritage of Sidmouth to play a role, and it will also fit in nicely with the annual SeaFest event."

East Devon District Council's development management committee meet on February 4 were the scheme is recommended for approval.