Plans have been submitted to convert 69 Bridge Street in Downham Market, previously A J Coggles funeral directors, into a Domino’s Pizza takeaway.
The plans were sent to West Norfolk borough council this month. They will be reviewed by relevant bodies for comments, including the Downham Market town council, before being decided upon by the borough’s planning committee.
The plans show the Domino’s restaurant will be primarily a takeaway, with space for six inside seats.
There are two Domino’s Pizza restaurants in King’s Lynn, and further restaurants in Wisbech and March. Downham Market has a number of pizza takeaways; Direct Pizza, Millennium Pizza, My Canteen, and Spice Hut.
The proposed takeaway would operate between 11am and 11pm daily and they say will aim to create a number of full-time and part-time jobs with employees being sourced locally.
If approved, the shopfront will be replaced with a new aluminium shopfront to be finished in a dark grey colour. The existing areas of obscured glass or cladding would be replaced with clear glass windows.
The property is within a “conservation area”, a designation given to parts of the centre of the town as an historic market town. This means alterations to what is known as the “street scene”, the view of the street, must be given extra consideration in the planning application.
Downham Market was listed on Domino’s recent corporate “areas of interest” document, places where they are investigating expanding into. One of only three areas in the east of England, Downham was listed along with Baldock and Dunstable.
Councillor Joshua Osborne, representing Downham Old Town ward where the property is located, has written in favour of the application. The Labour councillor who recently ousted the Conservatives in the ward said that the plans offer a “positive contribution” to the local economy. While he noted that some people have objected to the competition this will bring to local businesses, Cllr Osborne praised the job opportunities for young people that the plans will bring. Thinking of the environment, the councillor suggested that Domino’s should consider bicycles or “e-bikes” for local deliveries alongside cars for deliveries further afield.
