PLANNING chiefs are studying an application to turn a former fish market in Southampton into a restaurant with a rooftop seating area.

The city council has received what it describes as a "partly-retrospective" application relating to a terraced property at Burgess Road.

The proposed development includes a first floor extension to the existing building, plus an enclosed staircase and a first floor bedsit.

But the application has already sparked an objection from the council's environmental health team.

In an email to the planning department Peter Wainwright says: "After raising concerns when pre-application advice was sought in October we would have expected a detailed 'Design and Access' statement addressing the issues (noise and non-compliance with the Smoke Free Regulations), but this information is not forthcoming with the application.

"The Environmental Health Service have concerns about the potential for noise from customers'

voices and music being played externally affecting residents of any nearby properties.

"We would therefore object to the proposed rooftop seating area on the grounds of noise."

Mr Wainwright says the application appears unlikely to comply with the Smokefree (Premises & Enforcement) Regulations 2007 as drawings accompanying the proposal seem to show a fully-enclosed area.

He adds: "There is no narrative to show how these regulations will be complied with and we would not wish to recommend approval of anything which contravened them.

"The applicant/agent was previously advised to email with detailed proposals of how they intend to comply with the regulations.

"This information could have also been supplied with the planning application but cannot be located in the submission. We have no objections to the other elements of the proposed development."

The application describes the property as a former restaurant, cafe and fish market that is currently vacant.