A RESTAURANT could close down and be transformed into flats for university students if plans are given the green light by council bosses.

Muhammad Hussain, who is the director of Food Inc Colchester Ltd, has submitted detailed documents to Colchester Council’s planning department.

The blueprints show a desire to turn Grill 66 Fusion, which the Gazette understand has become Colchester Spice, into housing.

If the proposals are given the go-ahead the unit, in Barrack Street, would consist of a one bedroom flat and a pair of two bedroom flats.

Mr Hussain has suggested the small homes could be suitable for undergraduates studying nearby or even city centre workers.

A spokesman for Food Inc Colchester Ltd, which owns the Indian restaurant and takeaway, said: “At the moment there is a problem with lack of housing.

“This will allow for single individuals who work in Colchester to reside locally to their workplace.

“This proposal will also be suitable [for those] who study at the University of Essex, with the locality of the site being close to the university with a short bus or train ride away.

“The appearance of the building will not change drastically, with similar materials being used, fitting with the harmony of the street.

“There will be no loss of employment to the site as all of the people working within the restaurant are immediate family members and are aware of the conversion.”

Gazette:

Lee Scordis, Essex councillor for the Abbey Division, has praised the move to turn the restaurant into accommodation.

He said: “Personally, I think changing this site to flats is a positive change and the flats themselves look like they are a good size.

“It is a street which already has a lot of takeaways and so do will need all those takeaways? Probably not. So, I think this is a positive move.

“Barrack Street does need a lot of TLC though. We have a few shops and offices there which are constantly closed or are a bit run-down.

"So, we want to see them being used for something - whether that is them being lived in or used for business. But, there is a lot of potential there."

The consultation period for the plans will end on February 22 before council bosses make their decision.