BEACH hut owners say they are concerned about the “excessive” scale of the proposed replacement for a café which was gutted by fire in 2018.

Last Wednesday, BCP Council’s cabinet unanimously backed plans for a larger £1m facility for the site of the former Beach House.

But Mudeford Sandbank Beach Hut Association said its increased floorspace would have a “negative environmental impact” on the “sensitive” area.

“[We are] not against the rebuild of the café, indeed we all appreciate it is the centre of the hut community, providing a shop, restaurant and café services,” its chairman, Stephen Barratt, said.

“But the café sales floor has virtually doubled since the ‘70s and ‘80s and the premises had already reached the limit of available floor space.

“We are keen that the new build does not put significant additional pressure on the local community through excessive increases in footfall in the adjoining areas.”

He said he was also concerned that designs being considered by the council would “dominate” the area.

The former café building had to be demolished last year following a fire in November 2018 which severely damaged it.

And in the terms of its lease agreement with tenant Mademade, the council is required to rebuild it within two years.

As a result, its cabinet was asked to give the go-ahead for the project and approve just over £1 million to fund an expanded and more modern replacement.

But in a statement read out at the start of its Wednesday meeting, the association, which represents 346 Mudeford sandbank beach hut owners, said the option of a like-for-like replacement building needed to be considered.

“In principal, the MSBHA supports the rebuild of the café but strongly believes that increased retail floor space, additional covers and higher footfall would have a negative environmental impact on this sensitive site,” it said.

“The omission of a like-for-like rebuild option which satisfies lease obligations does not allow for an informed decision to be made.”

In response, cabinet members said they would make sure representatives of the group were involved in the design process which is due to take place over the coming weeks. They then unanimously gave the go-ahead for council officers to start drawing-up designs.

A planning application is expected to be submitted later this year.