Concerns about the impact on local residents from a potential new restaurant have been raised by Kenilworth councillors.

Plans to turn the former Shakespeare's Hospice Shop at Abbey End into a "café/bar/restaurant" have been submitted to Warwick District Council (WDC).

If approved, the scheme would see the building extended to fill the gap between the existing shopfront and the walkway to Abbey End car park.

The application has been submitted by Grevayne Properties Ltd and Loungers PLC - the latter runs the Cosy Club, Brightside and Lounge brands.

But speaking at the most recent Kenilworth Town Council planning committee meeting, councillors questioned whether the new eatery would create too much extra noise in the area.

"The noise from the ventilation units, I could not find any information about the noise or what the impact would be," said Cllr Alan Chalmers. 

"There was a comment from the environmental health officer that these would be considered and I think we should definitely make that a condition, subject to the noise levels being restricted. 

"These ventilation units can be very noisy and shouldn't be allowed to be on all night."

A drawing of the proposed extension to the former charity shop in Abbey End (image via planning application)

A separate licence application for the premises has also been submitted to WDC.

Meanwhile planning documents say up to 30 jobs would be created through the restaurant, bringing back to the life the empty unit which has been vacant since early 2020 when the charity shop closed.

But town councillors - while not objecting to the application - said the potential new use of the building must be carefully considered

Cllr David Bailey added: "On the plans it shows there are bifold doors at the front. 

"With those doors open it would be noisy for the people who live right next to it."

Cllr Kate Dickson replied: "That is a similar plan to Lil Greens which this committee has spoken about regulating the times of the doors being open there. 

"There are residents who live in very close proximity to all those premises."

See the full application here.