TOWN centre premises in Northwich are earmarked to be divided into a new restaurant and shop use.

The property in question is at 60 and 64 Witton Street, and the aim is to sub-divide the ground floor to form two separate units.

The new restaurant would be confined to the no.64 side of the building. This area is proposed to change use from A1 (shops) to A3 (restaurants and cafes) as its main use with an ancillary A5 (hot food takeaways) element.

The remainder of the ground floor and upper floors of the building would continue with its A1 shop use.

Planning approval for the changes are being sought from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Darren Curry Architects have been appointed by Onkar Dhinsay, the tenant of the property, to determine how the property could be sub-divided to form a new restaurant, while the rest of the property retained its existing retail use.

“Numbers 60 and 64 Witton Street is a relatively large single A1 unit just outside the primary area,” said a report by the architects accompanying the planning application.

“These proposals aim to split the unit and allow the tenant to diversify his business to include a restaurant.

“The proposal allows for more efficient use of existing floor space within Northwich town centre and to increase the employment opportunities.

“The proposed new primary A3 use will complement the existing uses in the area and not represent any issues to the new developments currently under construction.”

A new shop frontage is proposed to the A3 unit, and the existing shop frontage to the A1 unit would be retained.

Proposed changes to the rear have been kept to a minimum while allowing the units to operate independently.

“The applicant is proposing opening hours of Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm, and closed on Sundays,” said the report.

“It can be seen that these hours are geared to coincide with daytime town centre usage only.

“The ancillary A5 (hot food takeaways) use proposed is not for the after-retail-trading hours clientele, which would have its own associated transport, noise and nuisance issues.”