Plans to build an extension to the rear of Ming’s Garden Chinese restaurant in Falmouth’s town centre, have been approved despite neighbouring residents claiming the development would impact on their privacy.

A similar, though larger, extension to the restaurant in Church Street had been proposed in 2009, but the plans were withdrawn. The applicant then had discussions with Cornwall Council before submitting the new proposals. These are for a two-storey extension to the rear which would create additional restaurant space while at lower ground floor level, the existing store rooms would be opened up to form a bar area with additional restaurant space within the extension. It is also proposed to make better use of the existing garden by introducing a terrace area with restricted hours of use.

The kitchen would be relocated to this level to free up prime seating areas within the existing bay window area above, and customer cloakrooms would be located to the rear.

Although residents objected to the plan, Cornwall Council case officer Sophie Rogers supported it as long as conditions were imposed. She said: “The design, scale and siting are all considered appropriate for this contemporary addition that would be respectful of the host building as a listed historic structure and would preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the designated conservation area.”