THE owner of a popular restaurant has claimed the Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis "greatly affected" the business amid plans to transform the site into flats.

Baboush, on The Ridgeway, Chalkwell, is continuing to trade but owner Mehmet Hassan submitted plans to Southend Council in August to convert both the ground and first floor into new homes.

Despite appearing to be popular with residents, Mr Hassan has now submitted fresh documents to the council justifying the decision.

The document describes how the restaurant has been “greatly affected by Covid, cost of living, energy costs and the growth in the Turkish/Eastern European” restaurants in the area.

It also highlights how the business, which focuses more on late-night trade, has “become a nuisance to its neighbours”.

The document states: “Our client has operated this venue since 2016 after an expensive refurbishment of the restaurant premises.

“Initially the venue was able to source a great compliment of staff and performed extremely well, however, as with many of the hospitality businesses nationwide, it was greatly affected by Covid, cost of living, energy costs and the growth in the Turkish/ Eastern European concepts whilst, the amount of labour utilized to operate this type of offering declined and became far harder to employ good members of staff."

Mr Hassan is also behind plans to transform the old Barclays bank in Leigh Broadway into flats, and was the owner of the Dining Room restaurant in Leigh, which recently closed.

According to the documents, a number of complaints from people living near the restaurant have been lodged with Southend Council over noise in the evening.

It adds: “As the business had to focus more on the late-night trade to return a profit, the venue started to become a nuisance to its neighbours, as patrons were not leaving the venue throughout the evening but over a smaller time much later into the night.

“Unfortunately, the licensing team are constantly receiving complaints from people living in the surrounding area.

“Our client operates many other food-led businesses throughout the town and should this application be successful will relocate all staff currently employed at this venue to his other venues.”