PLANS to replace a mini supermarket in York with a take-away restaurant have been approved.

City of York Council has granted planning permission for Oriental Express in Matmer House in Hull Road to be converted. 

The owner of Oriental Express has now contacted The Press to say the shop will re-open in new premises nearby.

The change will mean five of the seven units in Matmer House are takeaways, three of them specialising in pizzas.

Sophie Prendergast, planning officer at City of York Council, said in a written report that the council sympathises with the existing takeaway operators, who had raised objections, but said the increased competition was not a reason to refuse the new plan.

She said the change would lead to the loss of a food shop but said there were others nearby.

Neighbours raised concerns over parking and congestion, but the applicant said there were parking spaces behind the building for customers to use.