Concern is growing about the number of shops in Brighton and Hove being turned into cafes without permission.
The Local Plan states no more than 25 per cent of a shopping street in the city centre can be cafes, bars and restaurants.
However, shop owners have found a way round the rules, according to Brighton and Hove City Centre Business Forum.
The forum, which describes the trend as "creeping cafe syndrome", said shops fall into class A1 under planning regulations while bars, cafes and restaurants fall under A3.
But traders can operate a takeaway outlet under A1 and avoid having to get permission to change.
Meanwhile, a former retail outlet in Kensington Gardens has become a food outlet called Ekos and the council is investigating whether it should have sought permission.
Similarly, the Cornish Pasty Shop in Duke Street is operating from an A1 use and may need to apply for retrospective planning permission.
Wednesday April 16 2003
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