Developers want to convert a former restaurant into flats. 

They are asking Eastbourne Borough Council, developers for planning permission to convert the property in Terminus Road in the town to create six one-bedroom flats over two storeys. 

It was previously occupied by the Mandarins Chinese restaurant but has been empty for several years despite attempts to find a new business tenant. 

In a design and access statement submitted as part of the application, a spokesman for the developer said: “The restaurant has been closed for a number of years and, despite marketing attempts, there has been little or no interest in purchasing the property and maintaining its current use.

“On behalf of our client it is proposed to convert the lower ground and ground floors of the building into flats.

“The proposed conversion will make good use of redundant previously developed land in supplying much needed living accommodation, in a very sustainable location and in line with [planning] policies.”

The application only includes a single parking space for the flats, to be provided by demolishing a garage accessed via Elms Road, but developers consider this to be sufficient as the building is in “a sustainable location”. 

Bicycle storage would be built at the rear of the building.

The proposal also includes a new external staircase which would give access to two of the lower ground floor flats.

Two other flats would be accessed from the existing front steps and door at the Terminus Road entrance, with the final two from a rear entrance in Elms Road.