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A planning application has been submitted to extend a popular Indian restaurant and increase its seating capacity.
Safeer Khan has applied to Leeds City Council for permission to build a single-storey rear extension at Westbourne Spice, on Bradford Road, Otley.
The proposals would increase the restaurant's internal floorspace from 325 square metres to 370 square metres, creating an additional 45 square metres of accommodation.
What is Westbourne Spice?
The restaurant is one of Otley's best-known dining venues.
Housed in the former Westbourne Hotel on Bradford Road, the building dates back to around 1940 and has operated as Westbourne Spice for more than a decade.
In recent years, the business, which serves authentic Indian and Kashmiri cuisine, has picked up a number of accolades.
Earlier this year, it was named Best Family Friendly Restaurant of the Year at the fourth Nation's Curry Awards, a national ceremony recognising excellence across the UK's curry industry.
The site of the proposed extension at Westbourne Spice, on Bradford Road, Otley (Image: LCC planning documents)
What does the planning application say?
According to the submitted design and access statement, the extension is intended to "increase the internal seating capacity to meet growing demand while modernising the building's rear and side profiles".
Planning documents state that an existing smaller rear section of the building would be replaced with a larger extension designed to maximise floor space.
The development would create a new open-plan dining area at the rear of the restaurant, with additional seating for customers.
The proposed extension would include three roof lights to help keep the enlarged dining space bright and airy, while the rear elevation would feature three large symmetrical windows.
The extension would have a flat roof and be built lower than the main building to ensure it does not dominate the existing structure.
Documents submitted with the application state that materials used in the extension would match or complement the existing building, while large glazed sections would create a more welcoming appearance.
The application also states that the extension would be built on part of an existing tarmac car park and therefore falls below the threshold requiring biodiversity net gain measures, with no loss of habitat anticipated.
The design statement concludes that the development would provide a "modern, light-filled dining space" and support the long-term economic viability of the business.
It says: "The proposed extension is a logical response to the restaurant's need for increased seating capacity.
"By replacing a restrictive existing layout with a modern, light-filled dining space, the development supports the long-term economic viability of the business while enhancing the building's aesthetic."