Councillors have been urged to reject plans for staff living accommodation above a Chinese restaurant in Ripon.

North Yorkshire Council's Skipton and Ripon planning committee will meet on Tuesday, February 6 to vote on the proposal by Mr Wang, who took over the Dragon Inn in 2021.

The restaurant is situated in a five-storey grade two listed building in Market Place.

The Stray Ferret previously reported the committee deferred a decision on the application in September 2023. Councillors asked for further information amid concerns about issues such as access, the fire escape and bin collections.

The planning application seeks to change the use of the building to a house of multiple occupation on the floors above the restaurant. 

A design and access statement submitted in support of the bid said the upper floors had become domesticated and modernised as staff accommodation in the existing building but formal planning consent and listed building consent had not been sought - hence the application. 

Planning documents also indicate an additional internal staircase would be installed to connect the ground level to the first floor accommodation.

But council case officer Emma Walsh said this would harm the building in Ripon Conservation Area.

Ms Walsh's report concludes:

Ms Walsh also recommends councillors reject a separate application for listed building consent for work to convert the building into a house of multiple occupancy.

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