THE owner of a Weymouth restaurant has finally had an application approved after almost two years of planning controversy.

Mike Allen, who owns Quayside Bar and Kitchen, said it 'feels great' to finally receive the green light on changes to the front of his harbourside restaurant after Dorset Council originally denied the request.

The controversy started in 2020 when 29-year-old Mr Allen replaced the venue's windows and doors at the restaurant when the business replaced the original ground floor windows with French doors.

Dorset Echo: Quayside Bar and Kitchen in Custom House QuayQuayside Bar and Kitchen in Custom House Quay

Although not listed, the historic building is in a conservation area, but the restaurant owner said the business was forced to act to replace 'old fashioned and rotting' windows.

He said: "It feels great to have the decision approved.

"We were given the go-ahead by Weymouth Town Council and the Civic Society back in 2020.

"Dorset Council then denied the planning after the work's completion.

"We were having to pay around £3,000 just to resubmit plans to the council, after the planning team rejected our proposal due to drawings not being to scale."

The restaurateur said he was advised to go ahead with the work by an independent planning consultant.

"An independent planning consultant advised us to go ahead with the work because the planning backlog at the council caused by Covid would've put us in a difficult and costly situation had we decided to wait," said Mr Allen.

"It's in the public interest for our business to stay open as we are providing employment to the town, with all staff paid more than the minimum wage."

Mr Allen had previously said the old windows meant it actually costs more for us to be open for one month, than to be closed for six months with no income, due to the high costs of heating the building.

He said that if the business stayed open over the winter without the changes, the heating bill would have cost thousands each month.

Mr Allen added: "The council is stuck in the dark ages.

"In Weymouth, we need to move forward and have a fresh outlook to attract young people, and these sort of decision stop progress."

Dorset Council has previously said property owners that carry out work without planning permission 'do so at their own risk'.

The council was approached for comment on the approval several times.