Harborough’s former NatWest bank could be transformed into restaurant serving international cuisine
Plans have been submitted to Harborough District Council to turn the former NatWest bank into a restaurant.
The bank has remained empty since it closed its doors to customers early in 2023 following the rise of phone and internet banking.
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Hide AdThe St Mary’s Road building, which is over 100 years old, is classed as a non-designated heritage site which means it carries a degree of significance to buildings, ensuring it is better taken into account in planning applications. It does not, however, meet the same criteria as a heritage site.
The application, put forward by businessowner Pradip Karanjit, says the proposal for an ‘authentic, contemporary Restaurant of International Cuisine’ is in line with the Local Plan – which aims to shape the district up until 2031.
The Plan highlights St Mary’s Road as a site to extend shopping provision outside the Primary Shopping Area and increase ‘the commercial leisure and tourism offer within the town’, including with restaurant facilities.
As well as a dining area and kitchen, other proposals include the transformation of one of the former bank vaults into a ‘banquet experience with an authentic culture theme’ while the first floor would serve as a ‘relaxing cocktail bar’.
The new venue would create 12 employee vacancies.
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Hide AdThe consultation for the plans closes on May 20, with a decision expected in early June.
To view the plans visit Harborough District Council’s planning section and search application number 24/00509/FUL.