Plans to turn a former Pizza Hut restaurant into a butchers would be an “improvement”, according to a councillor.

If approved, the building on Sittingbourne Retail Park will become a butchers with the building staying exactly the same, with the exception of some outdoor sign and interior changes.

It was revealed last week the Pizza Hut outlet would be closing after 16 years at the Mill Way site, after opening in 2004 and creating 50 jobs.

Plans for the building, which will be next to McDonald’s, are being lead by Matthew Blythin from DHA Planning in Maidstone.

He claims the town won’t feel the loss of the pizza chain because of the Spirit of Sittingbourne regeneration which will bring new restaurants to the town centre.

He said: “The proposed change of use would add to the diversity of town centre uses in Sittingbourne, without harming its viability.”

Planning documents said recent sales figures from June last year showed sales at butchers shot up by nearly 50% during the first lockdown.

It continued: “This is at a time when the restaurant industry has faced significant challenges brought about by the pandemic.

“Today people are wanting to get behind local businesses and they want to know where their meat has come from. They want advice from people selling it.

“They want that personal touch. They want a high quality product, and the independent butchers are able to provide customers with what they want.”

Chalkwell ward councillor Ghlin Whelan (Lab) supported the plans, saying he “sees no reason to object”.

He said: “I don’t see any reason people wouldn’t accept it. There’s not much change as it’s going from a food restaurant to a food shop. It’s an improvement.”

To view the application click here, and use reference 21/500261/FULL.

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