COUNCILLORS are to decide the fate of a new Bolton restaurant after its owners broke the conditions of their planning approval by creating a venue three times larger than they were allowed to.

Bolton Council's planning committee originally granted permission for the creation of the Vettriano restaurant on Chorley New Road in October.

The development involved transforming the existing building -- formerly a laboratory at Newlands Medical Centre -- into the Italian-themed eaterie.

Permission

Applicants Russells Restaurants were granted permission to create the venue using 63 square metres of the former building.

But a subsequent inspection by planning officers once the restaurant opened revealed that it had been built using 190 square metres of floorspace -- three times larger than given permission for.

Howard Barritt, head of planning control, told committee members that the owners had not submitted another planning application to take in the extra floorspace.

The committee heard that the increased size of the restaurant was due to a mistake of the applicant's part by accidentally putting the wrong measurements on the plans.

Committee members voiced their concerns over how the building was allowed to go ahead when it contravened the planning permission.

Cllr Bob Howarth said: "The finished floorspace is three times the original approval. This is not a nominal increase, it is a huge one and I just hope it does not set a precedent for other people."

But Mr Barritt said: "The planning approval was for 63 square metres, but when the restaurant opened for business it became clear they were using more of the building then they should have done.

"The mistake is they haven't complied with their approval and this is their attempt to rectify it."

If the committee rejected the new application, then it would mean the restaurant would be forced to downsize to the measurements stipulated in the original approval.

A report to the planning committee said: "The principle of a restaurant in this location has previously been approved. The increase in size and scale of this proposal compared to that of the original permission is not considered to be unacceptable."

The committee voted to visit the premises and see the extra floorspace at first hand before they made a decision on the application.

The site visit will take place shortly before the next committee meeting in May.