Plans have been drawn up to turn an empty grade II* listed building in the city centre into a restaurant.

The application outlines plans to turn the former NatWest bank, in St Martin’s, into a Middleton’s Steakhouse Grill.

The company first opened in 2010 just outside King’s Lynn, in Norfolk, and they now also have restaurants in Norwich, Colchester, and Milton Keynes.

The exterior of the building at 2 St Martin’s, which dates back to 1900, will not be altered. There will only be changes made to the interior.

Leicester Civic Society chairman Stuart Bailey said the application was good news.

“We are all in favour of new uses for old buildings,” he said.

Businesses in the area also say they welcome the steakhouse.

Drew Harriman, owner of homeware shop Harriman and Co, in St Martin’s, said: “It is really encouraging if something is going there.

“We are pleased all the empty buildings and spaces are filling up, especially that one, because a lot of our customers say it is a shame there is nothing there.

“We are getting really excited about what is happening at the moment. There is a lot of energy and new businesses opening.”

He added that tourism from Richard III has helped to boost the area.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of tourists in Leicester, not only from the UK. This week we have had Danish, German, Japanese and Dutch customers.

“It is interesting how people are treating Leicester as a destination.

“It is all good and positive from our point of view.”

He added that the trend over the last few years was for people to eat in the Highcross area.

“It is nice to see it spreading to other parts,” he said.

Joe Jackson, owner of Holly’s Coffee Shop, in St Martin’s, said he was pleased to hear about the application.

“It is a beautiful old building, the architecture inside mirrors the outside.

“It has been closed for the last nine years.

“There have been so many empty units around here. It is good they are filling up.”

Kalpesh Kundalia, owner of King’s News, in St Martin’s, said: “It will be good for me. It will bring business. There is a lot of stuff happening in this area.”

City council planning officers have recommended the plans for approval.