A former convenience store in Leigh could be turned into a new pizza takeaway and restaurant.

A planning application to the change the use of 1737 London Road in Leigh has been submitted to Southend Council by S Chandrakanthan.

The ground floor of the building is currently empty and allocated for use as a shop, while the first floor is in residential use.

A new seating area would be added to the ground floor, while an extraction flue would be installed to manage odours coming from the restaurant.

Acoustic insulation would also be added to manage noise coming from the business.

The design and access statement adds: “The proposal would provide internal seating area for patrons to enjoy hot cooked food, especially for shoppers, whilst also providing a new food outlet service for the local community.

"The proposal intends to also provide much needed economic boost to the existing business by providing a new restaurant within the parade with seating thereby attracting patrons from the local community and businesses.”

The applicant says the new restaurant would be served by the pay and display car park in nearby Sutherland Road, while there is also parking outside the front of the building for customers collecting takeaways.

Deliveries would be made to the back of the site where there is more parking space.

Images of the business’ logo which are attached to planning documents show it will be called Stone Baked Pizza and Grill.

Southend Council will have the final say on the proposals.