A MAJOR retail centre is set to transform into a restaurant quarter after planning bosses gave it the go ahead.

The owners of the Montague Centre in Worthing say that national chains including Prezzo, Nando’s and Côte Brasserie have declared an interest in moving into the complex after planning permission was granted to change shops into eateries.

NewRiver Retail has been granted unanimous planning permission by Adur and Worthing Borough Council to convert the use of the units in the Liverpool Road shopping centre into what they describe as a “modern restaurant quarter".

Stuart Mitchell, Director at NewRiver Retail, said: “We are delighted to have received planning permission to deliver this development, repositioning The Montague Centre into a high quality restaurant quarter which will feature top national restaurant operators revitalising the town centre.

“We have had great success in repositioning another shopping centre in Leamington Spa after creating a similar quality restaurant destination with national operators including GBK, Yo! Sushi, Las Iguanas and Nando’s.”

He said the Leamington development had generated greater town centre footfall, as well as increasing the amount of time and money customers spend in the town.

Mr Mitchell said the plans constituted a dramatic change for the look and feel of the Montague Centre, with a restaurant ambience and awnings which would allow for terrace dining.

He added: “As a long-term investor in Worthing, working in partnership with the Council, we firmly believe that this will create an attractive and complementary offer and a major boost to the town centre catalyst for further investment, providing a great place for people to relax and take a break from shopping.”

The changes will impact existing retailers in the centre including Laura Ashley, Clintons, and Boots, but in their planning submission NewRiver argued that six of the existing eleven tenants were considering leaving at the end of their leases.

The design statement which accompanied the plans which have now been approved stated: “Our intention is to channel the demand for restaurant accommodation and secure operators who share our ambition to deliver something special in this prominent and sunny location.”

The major decision signals a change of mood from planners after a request to convert the Laura Ashley unit into A3 [restaurant] use was denied last year.