A NEW riverside restaurant is on its way to York after developers were given the go-ahead to redevelop an historic city centre building.

The former waterworks at Engine House, next to Lendal Bridge, is set to be transformed into a “high-quality” place to dine following approval by planners for the scheme.

The identity of the restaurateur who will open up at the Museum Street building has yet to be confirmed, but the new eaterie will now take up the entire Grade II-listed structure after the original plans for its future were redrawn.

Planning permission was originally secured in 2008 to turn the Engine House into a restaurant, but the redevelopment was originally envisaged to also include a two-bedroom apartment and leisure suite.

However, York-based LHL Group, which is handling the scheme, revised its proposals to create a larger restaurant than was first planned.

The changes were looked on favourably by City of York Council planners, who said the enlarged eatery would be “beneficial for the viability of the development and regeneration of the area”.

Giving their decision, they said: “The works to and extension of the Engine House would not detract from the special historic interest of the building, its setting and the setting of surrounding listed buildings, historic monuments and the conservation area.”

The tower originally formed part of York’s city defence network before becoming its first waterworks in the 17th century, using a horse-powered pump to supply the city with pipes made from hollowed-out tree trunks.

Original plans to revamp it into a restaurant and apartment were approved in 2007, but subsequently fell foul of conservation body English Heritage, which was required to give the scheme Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent. However, the resubmitted proposal won the organisation’s approval.

Concerns from boating organisations about the demolition of the public toilets on the site were also addressed when the developers promised to install new facilities. The restaurant will also have to close at midnight.

LHL Group was unavailable for comment on the planning permission for the Engine House being granted, but its spokesman, Richard Hampshire, has previously said the new arrival will be a “independent restaurateur and a high-quality restaurant”.