New Stuart Line Cruises building

STUART Line Cruises will be replacing its portable office building with a new, larger building to make it look more in keeping with the redeveloping seafront.

STUART Line Cruises will be replacing its portable office building with a new, larger building to make it look more in keeping with the redeveloping seafront.

District planners approved the application for a single-storey building at the development control meeting.

The new headquarters, on Queens Drive, which the owners hope to have built by the summer, will replace the old portable cabin with a building housing the booking office, storage area and winch room.

Owner Ian Stuart said: "We are trying to make something look much nicer than it currently is, the whole seafront is redeveloping with the new lifeboat house and bowling alley and we want to keep in line with that.

"We will also be able to operate all year round and keep the booking office open."

The portable building, which houses the booking office, has been located on Queens Drive for several years.

The planning officer said in his report: "Although the new building would be larger than the existing, its simple, clean lines, curved corners and neutral colouring would combine to ensure that it was not over-assertive or detrimental to the character and appearance of this part of the Exmouth sea front.