A LACK of parking spaces has led to plans to turn an empty shop into a restaurant being refused.

A planning application to convert 134 to 138 Listerhills Road, opposite the BP filling station, into a restaurant for 36 diners had been submitted by P Akhtar in the Autumn.

The unit has previously been used as a bridal studio and a beauty academy.

The application said the planned restaurant would open from noon until 11pm and create four full time jobs.

But planning officers have this week refused to grant planning permission. They pointed out that a restaurant of this size would usually require around 18 parking spaces, compared to just three for a shop that size.

Takeaway plan for Great Horton Road is refused for being too close to school and park

They said while a new business would be welcomed: "The proposal would likely lead to an intensification of use of this site with no off street parking provision.

"The proposal would be likely to lead to an increased demand for parking on Milton Street and Listerhills Road which would be unacceptable.

"It is likely to lead to an increase in indiscriminate parking and vehicles reversing onto a busy distributor road."