A popular restaurant chain looks set to open its latest branch in Witham town centre.

Loungers Ltd, owners of the Cosy Club and Lounges restaurant brands, has applied to change the use of a large building on Newland Street in a move which could bring 15 jobs to the town centre.

The building is grade II listed and used to be home to HSBC bank. The bank closed the branch in November 2015.

However the hospitality company wants to turn the property into one of its quirky and playful restaurants, which have built a reputation based on their outlandish decor and comforting food menu.

Available for all day dining, Loungers’ restaurants are known for their wide ranging drinks menu, relaxed atmosphere and eclectic food options.

As part of the application, Richard Pedlar Architects has been appointed to install a mechanical air extraction system at the rear of the building

A heritage statement says the front of the property will “remain essentially unchanged” and because of previous renovations to turn the property into a bank, the redevelopment would cause “less than significant harm” to the heritage asset.

The statement states: “The ground floor has been comprehensively remodelled and modernised for retail banking leaving no interior fixtures of historic interest and no sense of the usual original historic room layout.

“The works would bring the ground floor back into beneficial use, would not adversely affect the historic significance of the interior of the building or noticeable impact on the character and appearance of the Witham Conservation Area.”

The first and second floor of the property is apartments, with just the ground floor and the basement set to form part of the new business.

An outdoor seating area around the back of the property is proposed for diners to eat and drink in an open air setting.

To view the application, search 17/01582/LBC on Braintree Council’s planning portal.