PLANS have been lodged to convert the site of a former restaurant into offices.

The two buildings at 3-5 Bridge in Christchurch have been earmarked for use as offices and ‘flexible work spaces’.

The site was formerly occupied by restaurant chain Prezzo which closed in January 2022.

Two planning applications for the site have been submitted by Ink Associates Ltd, a company specialising in luxury retail design and store construction.

One application requests a change of use at the ground floor from a licensed restaurant to offices, while the other requests permission for internal alterations to the building, as well as maintenance to the windows and doors.

Ink Associates Ltd said in a planning statement: “This change of use would be representative of the location where there are numerous buildings that are located within Bridge Street that are now operating as offices.

“It should be noted that 3-5 Bridge Street is surrounded by private residential dwellings that will benefit from a change from a licensed restaurant with significant kitchens to offices, both in terms of potential noise nuisance reduction but also removing kitchen extraction and the associated environmental impacts - smells and noise.

“The change of use will provide smaller offices spaces and flexible work spaces that will serve the community and specifically smaller business and/or individuals who want the benefit of collaborative working, and are not specifically catered for in the locality.”

A decision is yet to be made on the planning applications.