Tower Hamlets councillors have rejected a plan to expand outdoor seating at a Canary Wharf restaurant, citing concerns over public space and pedestrian safety.
The Development Committee voted against the application for additional seasonal seating at 5 Park Drive on Thursday, 24 July 2025. The proposal, application PA/25/00513, would have extended the existing outdoor seating area associated with the restaurant further towards South Dock, for use between March and October.
While the restaurant at 5 Park Drive already benefits from outdoor seating, approved under PA/24/01208, the rejected application sought to extend this further towards South Dock, but only between March and October.
The committee's decision went against the recommendation of planning officers. Victoria Coelho, a planning officer, told the committee that the principle of outdoor seating had already been established, and that the applicant had agreed to maintain a two-metre wide pedestrian route through the site at all times. She stated that two metres is a generally adopted width to allow for someone in a wheelchair or someone down to the dockside walk as well.
She also stated that a management plan had been submitted to address potential noise impacts, with operating hours restricted to no later than 10pm.
However, councillors expressed reservations about the impact on public access and amenity.
Councillor Iqbal Hossain, Chair of Development Committee, shared his experience of a site visit, stating that the proposed seating arrangement left very little room for pedestrians. At some parents I'm sure Victoria will agree with me it wasn't even a meter and a half or a meter to move,
he said. My main concern is if we have table on both side as a pedestrian or as a comfortable living field walk through two rows of people rows of people on your left and right eating it is uncomfortable it's not nice to have people walking through a meeting.
Councillor Marc Francis agreed, stating that while the council should be flexible to facilitate business, for me this would be stretching ourselves too far. I can't see how that walkway I could see how people there would just be endless complaints whether the table was on the right side of a line or not on the right side of a line and I don't think that's the way that we need to enforce this.
Councillor Amin Rahman, Chair of Strategic Development Committee, raised concerns about the safety of pedestrians, particularly with waiting staff crossing the walkway to deliver food and drinks.
Gareth Gwynne, a senior planning and building control officer, suggested a temporary consent to assess the enforceability of the two-metre route, but the committee ultimately voted to refuse the application.
The committee cited the loss of public realm, health and safety concerns for pedestrians, and the potential for setting a precedent for future encroachment on public land as reasons for the refusal.
The agenda for the meeting and the public reports pack are available online.
