Plans submitted to turn former Wilmslow Barclays bank into Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza restaurant
A planning application has been lodged to transform the former Barclays branch on Grove Street in Wilmslow into a Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza restaurant, creating up to 18 jobs if appr
By Chester Standard
A vacant former bank in Wilmslow town centre could be given a new lease of life after plans were submitted to convert the building into a Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza restaurant.
Mission Mars, the hospitality group behind Rudy’s and Albert’s Schloss, has applied to Cheshire East Council for permission to change the use of the former Barclays branch on Grove Street. The bank closed in August 2023 and has remained vacant since.
If approved, the restaurant would create 10 full-time jobs and eight part-time roles, adding to Wilmslow’s hospitality sector while bringing an empty town centre property back into active use.
Planning documents state the restaurant would operate daily between 12pm and 10pm.
Design proposals prepared by Studio 72 on behalf of the applicant show the ground floor being transformed into a restaurant with customer seating, an open pizza counter and oven, accessible toilet facilities and staff areas. The building’s original bank vaults would be retained and repurposed as storage rather than removed.
The first floor would remain largely unchanged and has been identified for potential future office accommodation, although no alterations are currently proposed.
Supporting documents submitted with the application say the scheme is intended to sensitively reuse the prominent building while preserving its architectural character. The applicant argues that bringing the property back into use would increase activity on Grove Street and contribute to the vitality of Wilmslow town centre.
The proposal will now be considered by Cheshire East Council through the planning process. As part of that assessment, planning officers will consider the impact of the change of use alongside any representations submitted by residents and other consultees.
The application can be viewed on Cheshire East Council’s online planning portal under reference 26/2414/FUL. A decision will be made once the consultation process has concluded and the proposal has been fully assessed.