Smoking lounge plan looks like pipe dream

The applicant wants to build a small wooden cafe with an adjoining marquee, to be used as a smoking lounge for up to 85 people, on an open patch of land on London Road previously used as an open-air car sales pitch.

In an application to Sheffield Council, the applicant says they will provide a range of more than 20 flavoured tobaccos for customers to smoke from waterpipes while the timber-framed cafe would serve snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.

The business would be open from 1pm to 1am Monday to Fridays and 2pm to 2am on Saturdays, with no opening on Sundays.

Sheffield Council's planning officers, who have recommended the application should be refused, say that the proposal "seriously fails to demonstrate a high-quality scheme that relates well to the site and the immediate surroundings."

Their report describes the proposed marquee as a "poorly designed, poor quality development along the route of a major arterial transport corridor into and out of the city."

No member of the public objected to the plans , although the South Yorkshire Police architectural liaison officer said they were concerned about the marquee as its open structure could lead to crime and disorder.

At the same planning committee meeting, councillors are also set to refuse an application from the Elif takeaway in Ecclesall Road to extend its opening hours to 1.30am each morning, and 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. At present it is permitted to open until 11.30pm from Monday to Saturday and until 11pm on Sundays.

Planning officers say the plans would "result in an unacceptable level of noise disturbance".

A total of 18 letters of objection were submitted, as well as

objections from Broomhill Green Party, the Botanical Area Community Association and the Botanical Gate Community Association.