A FORMER Pizza Hut is set to be transformed into a new bar and restaurant.

The unit, on the corner of Southchurch Road and Chichester Road, in Southend town centre, has stood empty for eight months.

Pizza Hut closed down the branch after three decades of business following a review.

It will now be converted into a bar and restaurant after Southend Council approved a second planning application from AJ Enterprise.

The plans were knocked back first time around due to the lack of a noise report.

Planning agents, New World Designers, of London Road, Westcliff, revealed the new owner is a local man.

They said he "fully intended to go ahead with the plans", but would not give further details about the new business.

Julian Ware-Lane, Labour councillor for Milton ward, said he was pleased the unit was coming back into use.

He added: “Being placed on the junction of two main roads not far from the High Street, an empty premises in the heart of the town is not a good thing. Any new business opening here is a good thing.

“Admittedly, there aren’t a shortage of bars in the area, and whether there is a market for another I don’t know, but that’s a business decision that will be discovered in the fullness of time.”

The new business will create four full-time and two part-time jobs.

It will open between 11am and 11pm Monday to Thursday, 11am and midnight Friday to Saturday, and noon until 10.30pm on Sunday.

In February, Pizza Hut revealed it was considering returning to Southend, possibly as part of the proposed Marine Plaza or Seaway car park developments, which are set to change the face of the seafront.

A spokesman said: “The team are aware of the proposed developments and will continue to track their progress, potentially returning at some point.

"We continually evaluate the location of our restaurants to ensure they are in the best possible areas to meet consumer demand and have decided to close our restaurant in Southend.

“We still have a strong presence in the area and are confident our customers will continue to visit us.”