Peterborough pizza restaurant sees application for permanent canopy in conservation area unanimously rejected after appeal

The long-running process that has seen The Pizza Parlour in Cowgate attempt to keep its permanent canopy has been brought to an end after an appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.

The restaurant installed a permanent canopy during the pandemic as restaurants were encouraged to offer outdoor seating despite being in a conservation area of the city where businesses are required to have retractable canopies.

The canopy was built before planning permission was obtained and an application to retain it was rejected in October 2022.

A new application was then made the following month to retain it for a period of three years and this was also rejected by Peterborough City Council’s Planning and Environmental Protection Committee on the grounds of the impact the canopy, through its design, would have on the city centre conservation area.

Owner Peter Fierro then appealed the decision to refuse the 5.4m wide by 2.6m deep canopy to the inspectorate but this appeal has now been dismissed.

In his decision, the inspector noted: “ During the site visit examples of attractive retractable canopies were observed next door to the appeal site at Cowgate Local, Pizza House and along the road at Cote.

"No other examples of fixed canopies were to be seen in the area.

" The temporary covered seating area outside the Be.ar coffee shop on Cathedral Square has now been removed. Given this context the poor-quality, bulky and unduly prominent appeal canopy stands out in Cowgate Street as a discordant and visually intrusive feature that is detrimental to its character and appearance.

"The canopy also fails to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the City Centre Conservation Area.

"The canopy allows customers to enjoy outdoor seating in all weathers, supports the viability of the independently run restaurant and strengthens the vitality and economy of the city centre as a whole, however, these benefits would also result from a retractable canopy in compliance with council policy.

"No explanation is provided as to why a permanent canopy is needed or was erected instead.”