New restaurant at ex-bank approved

Angus planners have served up approval for plans to turn an empty Montrose bank into a Chinese restaurant.

The former RBS branch at 101 High Street closed in 2018.

But now a local businesswoman has been given permission to convert the 158-year-old listed building into the Century House restaurant.

It will have seating for almost 90 people.

And Xia Xia He plans to convert the three floors above the old branch into a conservation area house.

The application for planning permission and listed building consent received delegated approval from Angus Council planning officials.

They said it would bring a prominent building back into suitable use.

Officials dismissed an objection from a rival restaurant nearby.

They said: “Concern was noted in relation to impacts on existing similar businesses within the town.

“However, commercial competition is not a material planning consideration.

“The proposed use will result in some additional noise and activity above the level of the existing use but this is a town centre location and council policy seeks to direct this type of use to these locations.”

Plans for a Chinese restaurant have been approved for the Montrose High Street site.