THE National Trust’s £775,000 scheme to revamp its Devil’s Punch Bowl Cafe has just been submitted to Waverley planners.

A National Trust spokesman told The Herald: “If our planning application is accepted we would aim to begin works on the car park and toilets at the Devil’s Punch Bowl next year.

“The second phase, including the cafe extension, would take place in winter 2017 to spring 2018.”

The new plans add 45 more parking spaces to the existing 180 in a reconfigured layout, which also provides 12 disabled spaces close to the cafe entrance.

To cope with the increased demand, the cafe refurbishment will extend the number of covers inside from 50 to 75 and enlarge the terrace outside from 50 to 100 covers. More toilets will be added, and also a new building to house both the membership office and a ‘grab and go’ food and drink kiosk.

The cafe extension will feature brick-clad columns with sliding glass doors between and a sweet chestnut shingled roof, sourced from surrounding woodland.

The car parking area has been designed around the existing trees as much as possible and new trees will be planted. It will be further away from the cafe and surfaced with crushed Fittleworth stone.

“The refurbishment proposals are intended to make the cafe a more generous and appealing place for visitors, and to forge a stronger connection with the heathland landscape,” the application’s design and access statement notes.

“This connection is reinforced by the increased glazing and openness towards the Devil’s Punch Bowl, and the increased external paved areas.

“The removal of the current overflow car park to the north of the site also improves the setting of the extended cafe building.

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“In making these changes, the Devil’s Punch Bowl becomes more accessible and significant.”