How new food store could look at boarded-up former Indian restaurant site

-Credit: (Image: Planning application)
-Credit: (Image: Planning application)


These images show how the proposed new convenience store could look on the site of a boarded-up former Indian restaurant in Ellesmere Port. Back in May, Central England Co-op (CEC) - owners of the old Saffron Indian restaurant and Club Xes premises - lodged revised plans for the land after admitting defeat with their original proposals last year.

In December 2023, CheshireLive reported that the retail firm were "very disappointed" to be left with "no choice" but to withdraw its plans to knock down the vacant restaurant and replace it with a new convenience store and café. CEC, which specialises in food and funeral care, intended to build a modern, sustainable food store on the fenced off Flatt Lane site.

However, Cheshire West and Chester Council had concerns "with the traffic modelling for this scheme and the conclusion that the proposed development would not result in a severe residual traffic impact". Another major stumbling block for the council was what they perceived as the applicant's inability to demonstrate there are no suitable or available sites nearby.

Despite that blow, the retailer has returned with fresh plans that it claims have taken into account those comments and ultimately have led to the scheme being reduced. The proposed store, which would create 15 jobs, will include a new car park, community sitting area and "landscape enhancements throughout the site".

How the new food store could look at the boarded-up former Saffron Indian restaurant site in Ellesmere Port -Credit:Planning application
How the new food store could look at the boarded-up former Saffron Indian restaurant site in Ellesmere Port -Credit:Planning application

As part of the planning application, CEC recently submitted two CGIs of how the site could look as a result of being redeveloped. A final decision on the proposed scheme is still pending.

The restaurant building, which housed the town's last remaining nightclub and is most widely known as being the former Viscount pub, was purchased by the independent retailer in 2022. Saffron had shut its doors for good in December of the previous year, with a notice left on the entrance doors stating: "Saffron is closed permanently, sorry".

The former Saffron restaurant in Ellesmere Port -Credit:Cheshire Live
The former Saffron restaurant in Ellesmere Port -Credit:Cheshire Live

In May this year the windows of the building were completely boarded-up. It came after a fire broke out at the site back in March, which police said was "believed to have been started deliberately".

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