A museum has been given the green light to add a café to one of its more unique exhibits.

The Solent Sky Museum in Southampton boasts the fuselage of a BAC1-11 aircraft next to its main building in Albert Road South.

Permission has been given for the addition of a two-storey extension to provide stairs and lift access from the building to a café within the aircraft.

The fuselage was placed on the site in November last year after securing approval for its siting from the local authority.

Museum volunteers say there will be seating within the aircraft and a kitchen on the first floor of the extension.

A statement submitted as part of the application to the city council’s planning department said: “Tripadvisor is a reliable source of public opinion and places the Museum as the highest-rated attraction in Hampshire.

“Visitor reviews raise only one shortcoming – the lack of a café.

“This innovative proposal to create a café within an aircraft will both add to the visitor experience and contribute to the future of the museum.”

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The application attracted an objection from a neighbouring resident, who said the museum was “progressively adding more historical junk onto its property”.

They added: “The museum seems to acquire items with little regard to impact on its neighbours or any sensible plan of how to maintain them.

“The side of the museum I see from my window is the visible manifestation of a hoarder’s junk yard.”

In response, a council planning officer’s report said it was recognised the museum had reached capacity with larger exhibits such as the fuselage and lightship stored outside.

“These exhibits are appropriate outside in the context of the museum, but it’s the duty of the museum to ensure the exhibits are maintained in the interests of the visual amenities of the area,” the officer said.

“The proposed extension in terms of its design and materiality would be in keeping with the museum or the appearance of the area.”

The application was approved by officers under delegated powers.

In the report’s summary, the officer said: “It is recognised that a combination of the extension and exhibits to the south side of the museum will have somewhat of a cluttered appearance, but in the context of the museum this is not considered harmful.

“The museum clearly has site capacity issues and opportunities to improve the museum offer by using curtilage land will support the vitality and viability of the museum.”