A VACANT car dealership is set to be transformed into a massive new Turkish restaurant with space for more than 100 diners.

A planning application has been submitted to Basildon Council to convert the vacant Longmans Motors car dealership in East Mayne, Basildon, into a Turkish restaurant.

The proposals, put forward by applicant Murat Oktem, detail plans for a large restaurant with capacity to seat 108 people on the ground floor.

“This would be an absolutely massive restaurant if the plans go through,” councillor Kerry Smith said.

“I wish the prospective business all the best success, as we can never have enough successful restaurants and businesses in the town.

“And it is always good to fill empty units rather than leaving them to gather cobwebs over the years.”

He added: “However, I have to question just how bust a restaurant along that road would be.

“It’s a little out of the way, and might struggle to attract the necessary footfall.”

The restaurant on the busy A road would be adjacent to The Watermill Beefeater pub and a Premier Inn.

The town’s residents believe the new restaurant would make a positive addition to the current culinary offering in Basildon.

“We don’t have that many Turkish restaurants in Basildon so it would be great to see a new one open,“ Basildon resident and self-confessed foodie Danielle Jackson, 31, said.

“There is a lot on offer to eat in the town centre, but I feel like Turkish is the one type of food that we need more of.

“The more selection of restaurants we have, the better, in my opinion.”

She added: “Yes, it’s a little out of the way but for people that drive, it’s really not too much of a problem to pop down there for an evening.

Peter Moore, 42, said: “Hopefully this one comes about, as it would be fantastic to be able to get some fresh shish kebab in Basildon.

“I’m a big fan of Turkish food, so hopefully this works out.”

Pre-owned car dealership Longmans Motors, established in 1952, continues to operate from its showroom in Long Riding.