1 day Ago
Proposals to convert a former vintage sweet shop into a takeaway restaurant have sparked mixed reactions. Planning permission was granted for the former Wicks Vintage Sweet Shop at 59A High Street, East Grinstead, to become a takeaway extension of the Goat Kitchen restaurant and bar. The new takeaway, named Goat To Go, will share its preparation area with the Goat Kitchen, which is at 55-57 High Street.
Mid Sussex District Council approved the plans on April 7. The former Wicks Vintage Sweet Shop (Image: Google) The premises at 59A have been empty since the sweet shop closed for business in January 2023. The council’s planning report noted that the takeaway restaurant would have a customer waiting area and a serving/kitchen area on the ground floor, with the first floor remaining unchanged.
The report further detailed that the new takeaway would operate until 11pm, similar to the neighbouring takeaway at 61 High Street. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The goat kitchen (@thegoatkitchen_bar) The extraction duct, a point of contention during the application process, has been installed on the roof in a position eventually agreed upon after initial concerns were raised. The plans were met with objections from the conservation charity, The Landmark Trust, which owns a 16th-century property across the street from the former sweet shop.
The charity claimed that a takeaway premises would "harm the historic setting" of the High Street. A photo of the new extraction duct (Image: B+C Architecture) A nearby resident also raised concerns about parking issues, citing the proximity of several other takeaways. The resident objected: "Customers frequently double park or reduce traffic to one way to collect their orders.
" Another objector, writing anonymously, expressed concerns that the takeaway "would not be in keeping with the unique historic nature of this part of the High Street". The plans also received nine letters of support. Drawing of the new shopfront (Image: B+C Architecture) Supporters highlighted the tasteful redevelopment of the takeaway premises, its potential to bring footfall and employment to the town, and its role in filling an empty shop.
One supporter wrote: "I express my full support for converting the empty shop to a takeaway. "I encourage supporting local small businesses and to fill our empty units in what is becoming a run down town.".
