WORK is set to start imminently on transforming a former restaurant into new homes after plans were given the green light.

Affinity 1777, in London Road, Leigh, has been empty since 2022 when the restaurant shut its doors for good.

This week Southend Council has approved a planning application by Black Hole Property Investments, who promise to create five “high standard” flats on the site.

Hoardings have already gone up around the former restaurant ahead of work getting underway.

Richard Perrott, the managing director, said: “We are just doing preparation work at the moment.

“Then work will start very soon.

“We are hoping to and plan to get it all done within in five months to six months.

“It is an ambitious timescale but we want to get moving and the works underway.”

The ground floor where the restaurant currently sits, close to the junction with Cottesmore Gardens, will be turned into two new flats.

Existing staircases will then give access to the current two flats, which will be reconfigured with an extension to the roof to form a further flat on the first floor.

Mr Perrott added: “We do feel that there will be a lot of interest.

“There is a lot of new flats being built in the Broadway, but not everyone wants to be within that every night.

“This is a prestigious location in Leigh, convenient, not far from the seaside, Old Leigh, and the station.

“These flats are still only 12 and a half minutes to the station, it will still attract commuters and also local people. What separates us from other developers too, is it will not just be a ‘white box’, they will be above average, a high-standard, with plenty of attention to the details.

“We are excited to bring this development to Leigh.”

The proposal has been designed to “complement the existing building with the choice of materials used externally”.

The proposed front of the building will be red brick to match the first floor elevation, and the rear will be rendered to match the rear and side of the building.