Sidmouth Town Council has thrown its weight behind an application to convert the town's historic Drill Hall into a seafood restaurant, however the council has suggested some alterations to the plans.

Sidmouth Town's Council's Planning Committee met this week to discuss the application which could create around 30-40 new jobs in the area.

The council's planning committee voted to support the application submitted to East Devon District Council by Rockfish, a chain of seafood restaurants already operating in Exmouth, Exeter and Plymouth.

At the meeting members asked that the following items be taken into consideration by Rockfish and East Devon District Council:

-Councillors would like any extractor fans and ducting to be of dark colour.

-Councillors would like the site to become carbon neutral and have suggested the inclusion of solar panels on the roof and bicycle racks for customers.

The decision on whether or not to approve the application will be made by the local planning authority, East Devon District Council, in consultation with local stakeholders including, Sidmouth Town Council, East Devon AONB, Environmental Health and Devon County Council's Highway Authority.

According to the planning application the restaurant would operate largely within the form of the existing building.

Apart from the addition of a balcony on the front elevation and single storey extension at the rear to contain the service rooms.

Rockfish is a highly successful group of family seafood restaurants based on England's South Coast.

The group is run by Mitch Tonks, a seafood chef, restaurateur and author well known for the success of his London chain of Seafood restaurants FishWorks as well as his TV show with Matt Dawson and the work he does promoting the qualities of UK seafood and life in our coastal towns and in particular the South West.

If you would like to find out more about how Rockfish plans to use the Drill Hall, click the red button below.