Plans to create a café at Exmouth’s former Tourist Information Centre in Manor Gardens were unanimously approved by district councillors this week.

They were considering an application to change the use of the building, and also to install a service hatch and put up three external awnings.

The proposals had to go in front of the development management committee as the building is on land under the ownership of East Devon District Council (EDDC).

But councillors at Tuesday’s meeting were all in favour of the café idea at the former tourist information centre, which has been vacant since 2011.

EDDC’s development manager, Ed Freeman, told the committee the former shop at the south side of the gardens was an “odd shape”, and a café “seems to make sense” as its new use.

Councillors had been told by a planning report that: “It is considered that this proposal would add vitality and be complementary to a use that would be compatible with the recreational area in which it was set.”

“It would offer a facility that would encourage people to travel to the gardens and then onto the beach, or vice versa to the town.”

EDDC has previously said that a café at the old TIC could be open as early as this summer.

Its decision to approve the scheme is in line with the views of Exmouth Town Council, which did not raise any objections to the café plan when it was consulted.

However, town councillors did object to a licensing application to sell alcohol on the site, which will be considered by EDDC’s licensing committee at a later date.