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Having reviewed the comments, I wondered whether there are any outstanding matters that you consider need to be addressed before the application can be determined.

With regard to the Environmental Health comments, I would respectfully note that the restaurant's opening hours are already controlled by planning condition and this application does not seek to vary those hours. The forecourt is already used for customer seating during the permitted opening hours. In our view, enclosing the existing seating area with a glazed structure would provide a greater degree of acoustic containment than the current open arrangement and is therefore likely to reduce, rather than increase, the escape of customer noise towards neighbouring properties.

In relation to the drainage comments, we consider that suitable rainwater drainage can be readily accommodated as part of the detailed design. Enclosures of this nature are relatively common for restaurants and cafés, and a comparable front forecourt enclosure with a retractable roof was approved by the Council at Hamiltons, 254–258 Bury New Road, Whitefield (application reference 63113).

If, in your opinion, the matters raised by the consultees (or any other issues identified during your assessment) can be satisfactorily addressed through appropriately worded planning conditions, the applicant would be content for the application to be determined on that basis, as this would be the preferred outcome.

However, if you consider that further information or amendments are required before a positive recommendation could be made, I would be grateful if you could let me know prior to determination. I would be pleased to provide any additional information necessary to assist in resolving the outstanding matters.