Wolverhampton bank to be converted to restaurant despite objections
A former bank in a Wolverhampton shopping centre will be converted into a restaurant and takeaway, despite strong objections from nearby residents.
Wolverhampton Council planners approved an application by Arikamel Muhammed to open an eatery at the former TSB bank building at the Avion Centre in Whitmore Reans.
The bank closed around three years ago and the building has been empty since then but people living in the area said there is no need for another food business in the area.
Ka Tsang said: “Although the former TSB building is now vacant and I agree that it should be filled, I disagree that it should be converted to a restaurant/takeaway.
“There are simply too many restaurants and takeaways in the area already.
“Within the Avion Centre itself, there are already four hot food shops, restaurants and takeaways. A fifth is absolutely unnecessary.
“As well as these, there are also three supermarkets providing food. An eighth shop within the Avion Centre providing food is an absolute overkill in an already saturated market.”
She added there were another eight food shops within five minutes walk of the shopping centre.
Mazhar Iqbal added: “I am objecting to the further development of this restaurant/takeaway as there are way too already within the area.
“Within a one mile radius from this location there are more than 50 takeaways/restaurants already so there is no need for another one to be built.”
But planners said the plan is acceptable for the premises and granted approval. The restaurant will operate from 10am to 10pm with customers using existing car parking facilities at the centre.
Their decision notice said: “The proposed restaurant is in an existing shopping centre and will make use of a current vacant building in a suitable location.
“The restaurant will use the existing car park and although the opening hours will overlap with the opening hours of other business there is time limited restrictions to accommodate the regular turnover of customers within the
centre and would not cause a severe impact of highway safety.
“There would be no adverse impact to neighbour amenity in regard to noise and odours.”
