A POPULAR sushi chain restaurant is hoping to open its first high street branch in the county right here in Chelmsford.

Yo! Sushi, famed for delivering food to its customers on a Japanese-style conveyor belt, along with holdings group Aquila, have applied for planning permission to Chelmsford Council for the vacant spot in the High Street most recently used by Stead and Simpson.

The pair has applied to change the use of the premises from retail to a restaurant.

A previous application from just Aquila earlier this year was turned down.

A better deal has now been thrashed and agreed between the pair. The application states the restaurant would create approximately 25 jobs and intends to stay open from 11.30am to 10pm.

Jon Parry, from Yo! Sushi, said he believed the proposal would bring something “genuinely new”

to Chelmsford.

He added: “We are confident that the proposed outlet will enhance footfall in this stretch of Chelmsford High Street and contribute very positively to the vitality and viability of the city centre.”

The chain currently has only one other branch in the whole of Essex, at Lakeside shopping centre, Thurrock.