THURROCK Council planning officers have granted permission for a former bookmaker's office in Stanford-le-Hope to be converted to a pizza takeaway.

Thurrock Nub News reported in March this year on the application by the Papa John's chain to make the conversion of the property on Kings Parade, which was formerly a William Hill bookies.

The first and second floors will remain in their current use as residential accommodation.

The application was approved by council officers subject to parking conditions and has now been rubber-stamped following submission of an acceptable parking management strategy.

Papa John's says it will ensure traffic impact is kept to a minimum by taking the majority of orders by telephone or via the internet and delivering them to the customers' addresses, minimising the number of visitors to the shop.

The company says that parking at the rear of the unit will be sufficient to accommodate the likely level of demand generated by delivery drivers.

The company has acknowledged that any parking is prohibited on the adopted footway in front of the unit.