A POPULAR Maldon venue is bidding to continue operating an Italian dining area for a second time. 

Luigi’s Alfresco restaurant at The Limes Guest House in Market Hill has submitted another application to Maldon District Council to allow its change of use.

The Italian restaurant opened officially in July 2019 after success with a pop-up event at the guesthouse.

An earlier bid for retrospective permission to keep an al-fresco dining area was rejected and described as having “unneighbourly hours”.  

The newest application includes a noise survey, which was lacking in the previous refused application.

The plans also look to bring back two external igloos which were used during the pandemic at the restaurant.

The planning agent hopes with these additions the plans will be approved.

Geoff Eaton, the planning agent for the application, said: “The decision on the previously refused application was made by the planning officer owing to the need for a noise survey, we have now had this survey carried out and the findings have been included in the new application.

READ MORE>>> Maldon venue refused retrospective permission for restaurant with 'unneighbourly hours'

“During the pandemic, the Limes introduced external dining igloos to protect patrons from the elements whilst ensuring everyone's safety, these proved to be very successful at that time but we removed them during the summer - in order to try to minimise the impact of external dining on surrounding neighbours we have now included these in our new application as they do afford a higher level of sound protection.

“We are, of course, hoping that the noise survey and the external igloos convince the Local Planning authority to grant us permission so that the Limes can continue serving the Maldon community.”