A NEW restaurant could be opened in a city-centre building in York which previously housed a clothing store.

Plans have been submitted to City of York Council for permission to change the use of the site in Colliergate where clothing chain ARK was based into a restaurant, after the applicants said a new retailer could not be found for the premises since they became vacant earlier this year.

Documents sent to planners have not named the firm which may move in if the scheme is approved, but said there was now more demand for restaurants and cafes in the Colliergate area and interested parties included “well-known names in North Yorkshire with established records of success”.

A decision on the proposals is set to be made at the end of next month.