NEW apartments are set to be built above a former city centre restaurant.

The plans would see the upper floors above the former Cafe Rouge restaurant in Friar Street in Worcester, which closed last year, converted into three flats and a six-room house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The ground floor and part of the first floor space in the grade II-listed building would remain for commercial use and could be replaced with a new shop, restaurant or cafe.

The studio flats would measure between 30 and 33 square metres each with the two HMOs each measuring 74 and 78 square metres.

The future of the French bistro chain was cast into doubt last July following the news that Casual Dining Group, which owned the likes of Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge, confirmed it had hired administrators.

The group eventually closed 91 restaurants across the country, causing the loss of nearly 2,000 jobs.

Later that month, it was bought in a rescue deal by former TGI Friday owner Epiris, which saw the restaurant group rebranded as The Big Table.

The closure of Cafe Rouge means it joins several other national chains leaving the city during Covid-19 including Pret a Manger which has already closed its High Street store and looks set to be replaced by a larger Greggs.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen also closed its branch in the city’s Crowngate Shopping Centre last year.

A statement included with the application said: “The proposed development makes use of the existing internal layout with minimal structural alterations.

“Otherwise, the external appearance and character of the building will remain unchanged.

“The proposed design creates mixed-use repurposing of the empty commercial premises bringing 24-hour commercial and residential life to the historic city conservation area as well as safeguarding the heritage asset for the future.

“The proposal keeps commercial use on part of the ground and first floor and residential use on the rear and upper floors, which would be split into three studio flats and a six-bedroom HMO with private access.”

The plans can be viewed via the planning section of Worcester City Council’s website.

The application number is 21/00522/FUL.

Public consultation ends on June 30.