A CHINESE takeaway could soon be opened at the site of a former Basingstoke garage.

Plans have been lodged with the borough council this month requesting a change of use for the former Goat Lane Garage, in Goat Lane, near Festival Place.

Under the proposal the use would be changed from A1 retail to A5 takeaway for the purpose of “selling Chinese food to be consumed off the premises”.

The site only changed its use class from sui generis (mechanic garage) to A1 retail in December 2019 when Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council approved a previous planning application.

As well as the use change, that proposal set out plans to install new windows on the side of the premises, remove the front door and install a new shopfront and replace an existing rear window.

One member of the public wrote in to the council to comment on the proposal.

Writing on behalf of Basingstoke Heritage Society he urged the integrity of the original building be maintained, as outlined in the conservation appraisal.

The more recent application has since gone on to outline further amendments, including the installation of a new “timber frame double-glazed shopfront” which appears to be in keeping with plans outlined in the previous proposal.

An extraction system will also be incorporated at the rear of the building, going up as high as the roof line.

The application also outlines an intention to install a “traditional style shop sign” above the shopfront. This will be downlit and “not of neon structure” so as to keep within conservation requirements of the area and avoid being intrusive to local dwellings.

It is anticipated that the takeaway would operate with three full-time members of staff and another two part-timers.

The proposed opening times would be from midday until 11pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays.

To view the application in full go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications and search using the reference ‘20/00391/FUL’.