Honiton Town Council has supported the application for a Dominos on Honiton High Street.

At a planning committee meeting earlier this evening (August 8), three councillors supported the application and one objected.

Cllr Caroline Kolek, Cllr Andrew Pearsall and Cllr Serena Sexton supported the application and Cllr Joanne Fotheringham objected.

The planning application is for a change of use from a bank (the non-listed building was previously HSBC bank, which closed in June 2023) to a hot food takeaway restaurant. 

The application requires extractor fans and associated ventilations. 

There will be a customer waiting area, food preparation zone and cold storage. There will also be five allocated parking spaces at the rear of the property.

A separate application will be submitted at a later date regarding signage on the front of the building. 

The proposed takeaway would be open from 11am - 11pm every day and the applicants say it will create a number of full and part-time jobs.

There are 20 public comments on the East Devon District Council (EDDC) website, seven of which object, 12 support and one is neutral. 

The objections mainly relate to the fact that Dominos is a chain and would have a negative impact on independent businesses operating in Honiton already. 

The councillors discussed the application for approximately 30 minutes. 

Cllr Sexton raised concerns regarding the increased noise and disruption for residents a takeaway may cause compared to a bank, but was reassured that the first and second floor of the building are not occupied by residents. 

Cllr Fotheringham said that Dominos is 'more geared up for cars' and would be more suited to an out of town location, especially given the location next to a pedestrian crossing. 

Cllr Kokek pointed out that Honiton is not a 'rich town' and that an empty shop front is an 'eyesore.' 

She said: "I would rather it was an independent business applying today, but a Dominos is better than an empty shop and it may attract younger families into Honiton.

"At the end of the day, it is about choice. And from looking at social media and the comments on the East Devon District Council site, more people support it than object.

"If people do not like it, they won't' use it, and it will soon close."

Cllr Pearsall commented that as it is a takeaway, it should not affect local restaurants. 

The application was supported, subject to environmental health.

The application will also be considered by EDDC, who will make the final decision.