FORMER American diner Detroit's is going to be turned into a 'family restaurant' after a revamp secured the green light.

Worcester City Council's planning committee has approved the project, saying it hopes investors can make a go of the site.

As the Worcester News has revealed in recent weeks, the Pinches family want to revamp the tired old diner and get it trading again as a new eatery.

It was approved unanimously by councillors on Thursday, despite some concern about the outside seating area.

Nearby resident David Dignam, who lives by the site, turned up to object over the loss of 13 on-site parking spaces at the front of the plot.

Councillor Lynn Denham, who represents the area, also voiced concerns over "significant local objections" and the impact on nearby residents, who are concerned it could become a bar.

But after a plea from property agent Julian Hill, who was acting for the Pinches family, it was backed.

Senior planning officer Alan Coleman said: "This would for be for 'restaurant use' only, the permission does not allow it to be used as a bar.

"If you wanted to have a drink there with a meal, you could do so but if you didn't have a meal and just wanted a drink, that would constitute a formal 'change of use'."

He also said the site, on the corner of Castle Street, was in a "dilapidated state" and needed the investment.

He added that a dispute between the investors and the University of Worcester over an existing cycle path was a private matter, not a planning one.

Mr Hill said there would be CCTV around the site and told councillors it would "have very much a family dining feel".

The committee said they saw no reasons to stop it going ahead, voting it through.

Councillor Pat Agar, the vice-chair, said: "It's an awkward site and we appreciate that - hopefully (they) can make a go of it."

As well as Brown's restaurant in Worcester, the Pinches family run Bushwackers in Trinity Street and Sin in New Street, along with another Bushwackers nightclub in Birmingham.

Brown's also has a sister restaurant called The Daffodil in Cheltenham.

Once the building is refurbished they expect the former Detroit's site to be open from noon until 11pm, the same trading hours as the previous owner.

It has been closed since May last year and was broken into last week.