JUSTIN Parkinson is hoping for success second time around in his bid to extend his restaurant into premises next door.

Justin opened Wine and Wallop at 76 King Street, Knutsford, 10 months ago, and wants to extend into premises which are home to Boa Hairdressing.

He opened the restaurant following on from Folk in West Didsbury and Wine and Wallop in Didsbury, and creating the King Street business took 18 months to complete.

Justin is seeking planning approval for a change of use of the ground floor and basement of 78 King Street from a hairdressers to a restaurant and café use, and to create an opening to form a link to number 76.

An application for the change of use was rejected in February by Cheshire East Council, and Justin has now submitted a revised scheme.

The original application was refused because the council said the proposed removal of the ground floor internal wall between numbers 76 and 78 would undermine the historic planned form of a grade two listed building, while damaging the historic fabric of the building.

The council said: “These works to 76 and 78 King Street would undermine the historic value of this heritage asset. The public benefits case is not strong enough to outweigh this less than substantial harm.”

It added that insufficient information had been submitted in relation to noise to judge whether an acceptable relationship could exist between the proposal and the existing surrounding uses.

A report by planning consultants Ludlam Associates said the revised application demonstrated the public benefit of the plans, which outweighed the ‘less than substantial harm’ caused by the proposal.

It added that the occupiers of offices above 78 King Street said they had never experienced any noise or nuisance associated with the Wine and Wallop business next door.

“The restaurant has identified an opportunity to enhance its offer into the adjoining premises,” said the report.

“Wine and Wallop operates a similar business in Didsbury, where there is a strong community element to the use, including catering for activities such as parent and toddler groups, baby yoga, live music and using rooms for birthdays, funerals and meetings.

“Most of these activities benefit from a ground floor location to facilitate access and pram parking.

“At present the ground floor of number 76 is too small and is largely occupied by the bar area. Extending into the adjoining floor of number 78 would enable this range of activities to take place.

“This would attract people to Knutsford town centre, who would most likely combine the trip to visit other businesses and facilities.”

The report said the extension proposals would make full beneficial use of both premises as a viable business which contributed to the vitality and viability of the town centre.

It added that numbers 76 and 78 had been adapted, altered and extended, and the proposed opening between the buildings could be reinstated in the future.