PLANS to build 13 flats on the site of a once-popular Austrian restaurant have been revealed.

The Old Vienna and its oompah bands fell out of favour with customers and the business in Eastwood Road. Leigh, eventually closed its doors in 2016 following a poor hygiene inspection.

Now outline planning permission is being sought to clear the partially demolished building, which has been an eyesore for some time, and build a two and three storey development.

Leigh ward councillor Carole Mulroney welcomed the application but said it would still be carefully assessed. She said: “Nobody wants to see it as it is currently and we all know it is going to be redeveloped.

“We want that done but even with 13 flats there will have to be the right number of affordable homes and there will still be the impact on nearby Cavell Lodge and a home behind the development to be addressed. It will almost certainly go to development control to be decided.”

Previous plans to re-open the restaurant came to nothing and an application for 15 flats were rejected by development control councillors in 2018. An appeal against the decision was rejected the following year.

Ska Architects believe they have come up with a revised proposal which addresses two main reasons for refusal – a lack of affordable housing and “the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.”

The size and bulk of the flats have been reduced in the latest scheme.

In the application on behalf of EDG Holdings, Ska Architects said: “We considered the objectives for redeveloping the Old Vienna, to make best use of previously developed land, providing residential development to contribute to the renewal and regeneration of Leigh.

“The proposal is to re-stitch the fabric in a contextually appropriate reflective and creative way mindful and responsive to residential neighbouring occupiers. The proposal is to provide new, high quality, residential development with homes which meet customer expectations to the highest quality adhering to current design guidelines and best practice in a highly sustainable location and makes best use of previously developed land.”