A PLAN has been lodged to turn a former Andover bakery into a takeaway shop with a view to selling the premises.

The Pie Shop, in Bridge Street, closed in June last year and the site has been vacant since.

Now the owner of the site has submitted an application proposing a “change of use to hot food takeaway.”

The previous planning use was for retail.

It is believed the owner has proposed the change of use to make the site more attractive to prospective buyers.

“It’s still owned by the same person,” said Steve Lovatt, director of JSL Architectural Services – the agent listed on the application.

“There’s a number of empty shops in the high street, so if they [the owner] want to sell it’s more likely they will be able to sell to a hot takeaway business.”

The application was requested and validated by Test Valley Borough Council on Wednesday, February 27.

It states that “the development will not have any adverse impact on the general character and visual appearance of the host building, the wider area, the amenities of neighbouring sites or highway safety.”

To view the plan, go to testvalley.gov.uk/planning-and-building/viewplanningapplicationsonline and search for 19/00493/FULLN.