A WELL-known curry house owner has submitted plans for alterations to the former Pizza Express restaurant in Darlington.

The planning application was put forward by Shuhel Ahmed, who owns Babul’s in Barnard Castle.

He wants to make changes to the shopfront and internal layout of the restaurant at 3 Skinnergate, in Darlington's town centre.

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It was previously a Pizza Express which has been empty since it closed last year amid the pandemic.

If approved, the front of the restaurant would be black with backlit yellow writing .

A statement, submitted to Darlington Borough Council’s planning department, says the application seeks to enhance the street scene.

It adds: “The purpose of the proposed scheme is to create changes to the shop front at the ground floor to allow a more harmonious layout suitable for the unit’s new tenants, change the illuminated signage above the glazing, and change the colour of the frontage to match our client’s brand – Babul’s.

“The proposals seek to provide a positive contribution to the area, while minimising changes to the current existing shopfront.

“The design has been carefully considered to ensure that minimal alternations have been made to the original building, utilising the existing formed openings at ground floor.

“Careful consideration will be given to the materials used within the new shop front will be chosen to closely to complement the existing building. Aluminium framed glazing will be used, which matches that currently installed within the same openings.”

The changes were described as modest and the illuminated sign would be smaller than the one there previously when it operated as Pizza Express.

There are also plans for a small dining area outside the premises, the application said.

Officers from the environmental health department have no objections.

The application was submitted earlier this month and Darlington Borough Council is due to make a decision on the proposals.

The plans can be viewed by visiting. www.darlington.gov.uk.

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