New Italian restaurant set to open in Southsea after council decision overturned

Work to convert a former travel agency on the corner of Marmion Road and Wilton Place, in Southsea, into the Pitigliano restaurant has now begun.

Last year an application for an extraction duct on site was refused by Portsmouth City Council amid concerns from residents of the effect it would have on the character of the area, as well as noise and smell.

However, an appeal on the decision was then overturned by a government planning inspector following a site visit.

In a report the inspector concluded: ‘Although the duct would be positioned on the predominantly residential rear elevation of the building, this would accord with the overall mixed commercial and residential use of the building and the character and appearance of this part of the conservation area.

‘The proposal would be barely visible in views from Marmion Road, due to its position on the rear elevation, and the proposed small degree of projection above the roof ridge.’

The report added: ‘The council’s environmental health team confirmed theproposed extraction duct details submitted with the planning application to be satisfactory with respect to noise and odour emission.’

Before the council's refusal the venue's owner Sam Arabbetou, who also runs Catalan Barcelona in the same road, had planned to open the venue last summer.

Mr Arabbetou described the appeal process as a ‘rollercoaster ride.’

‘We’re hoping to be able to open at the end of September,’ he said.

‘It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride to get to where we are and we’ve had to jump through so many hoops – we’re almost Olympic athletes – but it was well worth it as the Pitigliano restaurant is going to be beautiful.

‘We’re really hoping that by the end of September social distancing measures for establishments like ours will be a little more relaxed. This would give our patrons an altogether better experience. We are of course fully prepared otherwise.’

A total of six objections against the new restaurant had been raised by residents living nearby.

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