Restaurant plan for landmark building

This is how the site of a landmark West Bromwich building could look under plans which would see it transformed into a restaurant and luxury apartments.

Raj Lal, the owner of DR Developments in Birmingham, bought the Grade II listed Astle House in the town's High Street after it failed to sell at auction. The landmark dates back to 1883.

And now he has revealed his plans for the building, which was originally the offices of historic printing and publishing group Kenrick & Jefferson.

Mr Lal's preferred scheme is for a ground floor restaurant, with 14 luxury apartments above it. The entrance to the restaurant would front the Astle Outlet Park, if its owners agree. He would not reveal the cash he was preparing to invest into the venue but did admit it would be a "significant amount" as the building was severely water-damaged and infested with pigeons.

Mr Lal, who is also converting Handsworth's Red Fort pub into a restaurant, said: "It has suffered 20 years of neglect and I want to breathe new life into it because it is a beautiful building.

"I want to turn it into a restaurant with luxury apartments above it. I am not prepared to say how much it would cost just yet." He also hopes to restore the clock featured at the centre of the landmark's roof.

Mr Lal has prepared three proposals, one of which would see two floors of business space created alongside seven apartments.

The second would mean one-and-a-half floors are dedicated to business with nine apartments.

But Mr Lal's preferred option is for a ground floor restaurant and 14 luxury apartments above it. He added he was waiting to submit a planning application after holding discussions with planning chiefs and the owners of Astle Outlet Park.