An Indian restaurant catering for 100 diners could be created on the site of a former Wolverhampton railway station that is undergoing a £600,000 revamp.

Plans have been submitted to transform the warehouse at the old Tettenhall Railway Station in Henwood Road. It had been thought a traditional tea room might be created at the station, which is being converted into a visitors’ centre for Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve.

Councillor Wendy Thompson today said she was “a little surprised” by the application for a balti house.

If given the nod by council planners, the restaurant would be open seven days a week from 10am until 11pm. It would employ 10 full-time members of staff and five part-time and see the 310sqm warehouse completely overhauled both inside and out.

Wolverhampton City Council is revamping the station with cash from the European Regional Development Fund.

Spokeswoman Julia Corrigan said the authority would have liked to create its own cafe or restaurant on site but there was simply not enough funding to go round.

“A number of businesses came forward with ideas but didn’t come up with the funding,” she said.

Councillor Thompson, who represents Tettenhall Wightwick, said her decision on whether to support the plan or not was down to the reaction of residents.

She said: “We would have to consider things such a noise, nuisance and cooking smells.

“We wanted to see the warehouse building brought back to good use, and that use needs to fit in with the community around it.

“It is very much up to residents but I am a little surprised to honest. The warehouse needs a huge amount of work doing to it.”

Work on the railway station started in January and looks set to be completed by the end of the year.

The project will see a new field studies and interpretation centre created in the old station buildings and the old booking office converted into a base for the countryside rangers.

A decision on the restaurant plans will not be made before December 2.