A FORMER award-winning Southampton restaurant could be converted into flats, if plans are approved next week.

Applicant Andy Hewitt has proposed to turn Oxford Street’s Spice Cottage into homes, by stripping out the former eatery and building an extension at its rear.

This would create space for three one-bed flats and one studio apartment, spanning three floors.

However, it’s not known why the Indian restaurant – which was awarded a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor last year – closed so suddenly in 2018, and the Local Democracy Reporting Service has been unable to contact its former owners.

This is also the second time in less than six months that plans to convert the building – which neighbours Southampton’s Booth Centre – have been submitted, with the previous five-flat proposal being thrown out. Councillors cited ‘quality of living environment’ and ‘impact on Oxford Street Conservation Area’ as some of their reasons for refusal.

Nevertheless, the applicant says that this new scheme seeks to respond to these issues by removing both the previously proposed roof extension and also the second floor of the formerly-proposed rear extension.

Council officers have earmarked the plans for delegated approval – if certain regulations are met, including material types and construction hours.

Yet, even with the new plans, a dozen residents have still voiced their concerns at the development. They have cited overlooking, privacy, noise, and impact of construction as just some of their issues.

Local ward councillor Sarah Bogle also raised objection to the issue of needing to move a public water sewer so the extension can be built.

She added: “I note the issue of needing to move a public water sewer, the need for archaeological assessments and that the property is in a flood risk area.

“It is also near an area with a night time economy and I’m not convinced that a flat at ground level would be a positive move.”

Simon Reynier, of the City of Southampton Society, was another to object.

“Whilst we’re pleased with the improved design which has gone a long way to overcome the objections to the first application, we are still not satisfied with the design,” he said on behalf of the group.

“The flat on the ground floor has the window to the Lounge/Dining/Kitchen area directly overlooking the pavement giving insufficient privacy to the occupiers.

“There is also no outdoor communal space other than the back yard.”

The application will be reviewed by the city council’s planning committee on January 29. The meeting will take place at 6pm at Southampton’s Civic Centre.