PLANS has been submitted to convert a shop into a new city centre restaurant.

The proposed development was submitted to Chelmsford City Council for the works of a change of use of 160 Moulsham Street from retail to a restaurant.

It was submitted by the owners of Rustic Deli, a shop selling Romanian food, which is open at 153 Moulsham Street, in the hopes that they can expand their store to a restaurant.

The application reads: “The current application seeks to change the use of the premises to a restaurant.

“The applicants are the owners of Rustic Deli at no 153 Moulsham Street and are looking to expand on the success of their shop, which sells a range of Romanian delicacies, with a restaurant that will serve food.

“The two premises will complement each other with customers visiting the deli, which is open until 8pm most nights, then dining in the restaurant and vice-versa.

“This will, therefore, generate a healthy amount of activity and trade down this end of Moulsham Street.”

The store on Moulsham Street was previously Moulsham Glass until 2014 when it changed to Deja Vu Sandwich Bar and Cafe which was then taken over in February 2018 under the name Melts.

If the application is approved, the plans can go ahead to transform it into a Romanian restaurant.

The plans state: “The frontage presents a good mix of uses with currently 60 per cent of the frontage being retail use.

“The proposed change of use would not significantly harm the retail function of this area of Moulsham Street - the distribution of non-retail to retail would change to 50 50 - or result in an over concentration of of non retail uses distracting from the viability and vitality of the locality.

“Overall the proposal would comply with adopted and and emerging policy and it is hoped the council would look to support the application.”

The site is currently used as a sandwich bar and cafe.

The business would employ an extra six staff to work at the extended restaurant.

It would be open from 7am until 11pm from Monday to Saturday.

Rustic Deli is currently a sandwich bar, a first of its kind in Chelmsford offering its customers a selection of smoked meats, barbecue sausages, salami, cheeses and grocery items for its city centre customers to enjoy.