A vacant former restaurant in Leeds can be converted into a drinking venue after plans were agreed with the city council.

The former Chef’s Restaurant on Harrogate Road in Chapel Allerton is set to be brought back into use.

The venue can open as a cafe and restaurant during the day and a bar at night after Leeds City Council approved the proposal.

Planning permission was granted for the refurbished venue to open from 8am-12.30am, Monday to Saturday, and until midnight on Sundays.

A council planning officer’s report said the site was close to residential properties but other similar venues were operating nearby.

It said: “The proposed hours of use are not excessive and are common in relation to such uses and similar uses associated with the evening economy.

“It is considered reasonable to attach conditions to restrict the hours of opening and to prevent the playing of music outdoors to protect neighbouring amenity if planning permission is granted.”

A single-story extension to the rear of the building, opposite a Lidl supermarket and JD Wetherspoon pub, was proposed as part of the project by BB North Ltd.

Old decking would be removed from the front of the building and a tiled shopfront installed.

An architect’s report said: “Our client is intending to operate during the daytime as a café and restaurant, opening from 8am, transitioning into a bar with a food offering in the evening until midnight.”

One objection was received from a nearby householder who was worried about noise and potential public nuisance.

The council report said: “It is not considered that the proposal would be likely to lead to significant instances of public order or safety.”

No road safety objections were raised by the council’s highways department.

The report said: “The site faces Harrogate Road a highly sustainable location with frequent public transport links into and from the city centre.”