A famously smelly fish and chip shop in north Farnham has been refused planning permission to become a “fully fledged” hot food takeaway.

Oceans 11, at 133 Upper Hale Road, has been described as “Britain’s smelliest fish and chip shop” in several articles in the national press in recent years.

Long-suffering neighbours say the “rancid” smell is scaring off house-buyers from the area while clouds of grease stick to their car windows. And the previous owners were slapped with almost £5,000 worth of fines by Waverley Borough Council because of the smell.

There were hopes the new owners, who took over before Christmas, might take action to solve the odour issue. But after backtracking on plans for an improved air extraction system, residents’ suffering looks set to continue.

The fish and chip shop has been operating without planning permission since it opened in the former Shomraat Indian restaurant in 2019. A planning application, to change the legal use of the existing restaurant to a hot food takeaway, initially included an upgraded ‘odour control unit’.

But in January, the applicants revised their plans for a new extraction system “without any form of odour abatement system”.

A report by Waverley Borough Council planning officers stated: “The new proposal simply details the existing equipment, which according to Environmental Health officers is proven not to work.

“Noting comments by neighbours, officers consider the proposal would thus be harmful to the amenity of residents by way of smells and nuisance.”

Refusing planning permission, the report concluded: “It is considered the proposed extraction system will not adequately remove all the odour generated as a result of the takeaway business and such would give rise to odour nuisance to the detriment of the amenities of nearby residents.”

The applicants must now submit a new application, cease trading or face likely enforcement action.