CONTROVERSIAL retrospective plans by a city centre restaurant to place a series of “eyesore” outbuildings at the back of its premises in addition to a “deafening” new extraction system and a closed boarded fence have been refused.

The application for Baroushka in Fisherton Street, Salisbury, went before the Southern Area Planning Committee on Tuesday.

Residents living next door said the haphazard layout and design of the outbuildings resembled a “shanty town” and described the noise of extraction equipment as a “roar” when it was turned up to maximum levels at the end of evening shifts at around 11pm.

One resident, Geoffrey Bennetts, said the new buildings, with a total of more than 40 square metres, had replaced a timber structure of around seven or eight square metres.

The outbuildings, some made from breeze blocks, include a chiller store, a single storey structure and an extension to an existing single storey building.

Tony Allen, an agent speaking on behalf of the restaurant owners, told the committee the site had been used as a restaurant since the 1950s and much of the equipment had not been updated for many years.

Planning officers recommended the plans for approval saying conditions would help mitigate concerns and that noise and odour issues could be kept to “acceptable levels”. But councillors voted to object on the grounds of design.

Councillor Ian McLennan said: “Had this application come to us today to give planning permission then this hotchpotch of prefab buildings and bits and bobs would not get permission.”

He added: “While not wishing the restaurant harm and I’m sure it will continue to flourish, any planning must be done properly - we’ve already heard about the wirings slung over tops of buildings to make all this happen and certainly under a planning regime, that wouldn’t happen so it isn’t right.”

Nine councillors voted to reject the application with one against and one abstention.