PLANS to convert an Indian restaurant in Taunton into flats have been thrown out.

A planning application to replace the Blue Mango curry house with six one- and two-bedroom flats had been submitted to Somerset West and Taunton.

The change of use application on behalf of owner Harun Ali said the eaterie in Westgate Street was no longer sustainable.

But among the reasons for refusing the proposals was that it would result in the "loss of commercial employment in an edge of town centre location".

A council statement said: "No evidence has been presented to the council that adequately justifies the loss of employment use and business floor space or demonstrates that there is no ongoing demand for such a use in this location.

"The proposals would harm the vitality and viability of the area."

The local authority also objected on the grounds that the applicant had failed to demostrate there would be sufficient space for the eight cycles or bin storage he wished to include in the scheme.

And it said the proposed flats "individually fail to meet local and nationally prescribed minimum space standards".

It added: "The development would create cramped and poor quality residential accommodation, harmful to health and well being."

The application on behalf of the Blue Mango claimed the business had been "severely impacted" by the Covid pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.

The premises was originally developed as a pub in 1880s as the Westgate Inn, which was run for a period by former West Indian cricketer Roy Marshall before his death in 1992.

READ MORE: Planning application to convert Blue Mango into flats.