PLANS have been submitted by Bournemouth council to extend its beach front café to cater for a rise in visitor numbers.

The council is seeking permission to increase the size of The Prom Café’s seating area to put more of a focus on customers visiting outside of the summer.

It describes the work as “essential” to meet the rising demand with 25 per cent of the café’s income now taken during the winter months.

The work proposed in the application, which was submitted earlier this month, would increase the amount of covered seating at the café.

Turnover for Pier Approach-based businesses has risen by 24 per cent since the council’s multi-million pound Pier Approach revamp was completed last year.

Further additions are planned for the area including an adventure golf centre on the former Imax cinema site and a ‘living wall’ of plants along the flyover.

A statement submitted with the planning application says: “Completion of the well-received public realm improvements in Pier Approach has seen a rise in both the profile of the area and in the dwell time of the residents and visitors it attracts.

“The area has since seen a 24 per cent increase in turnover since the Pier Approach public realm improvements were completed in March 2017.

“This has generated significant increased business for The Prom Café, particularly outside of the summer season with 25 per cent of income taken over the winter months.

“The proposed extension to the café, which is essential to accommodate this rise in trade and offer exceptional visitor service, will continue to make use of the high-quality material and the key aesthetical palette already implemented throughout the public realm and incorporated into the shelter and tourist information centre.”

A decision on whether to grant permission for the work will be made in the coming weeks.

If the planning application is approved, the council says it will carry out the works before the summer.