Plans to transform a former Sunderland café into a tattoo shop have been given the green light by city planning chiefs. Back in July, 2022, Sunderland City Council’s planning department validated a planning application for 15 Roker Baths Road in the St Peter’s ward.
The business unit was previously known as the Roker Pie Shop, which was a match day institution in the days of Roker Park. In recent years, the site was transformed into café and ice cream parlour Sarnies & Sundaes, however this later closed with the building being put up for sale.
New plans from applicant ‘Studio 23’ aimed to open a tattoo studio at the site with three full-time employees. The development also included two small shop/studio rooms, a staff room and toilets, as well as covered storage to the rear.
After considering the application and assessing it against planning policies, Sunderland City Council planners approved the tattoo shop bid on September 2, 2022. Council planners, in a report, deemed the application acceptable in terms of impacts on highway safety, the character of the area and the amenity of neighbours.
The planning decision report adds: “No external alterations are proposed to the premises. Although the property is located within a predominantly residential area, it has been in a ‘corner shop’ type use for many years and it is therefore not considered that this small-scale operation will harm the character of the area.
“The environmental health team have offered no objections to the proposal. The use of the premises as a tattoo studio will not generate any unacceptable levels of noise, nor will the scale of the operations, with limited daytime opening hours, generate a high level of comings and goings to the premises.
“The residential amenities of neighbouring properties are therefore unlikely to be adversely affected.” Approved opening hours for the new tattoo studio will be Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 6.30pm, except bank holidays.
According to planning documents, the agreed opening hours aim to “protect the amenities of the area”.
For more information on the planning application, visit Sunderland City Council’s online planning portal and search reference: 22/01310/FUL
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