A RESTAURANT that became a West Swindon landmark may be set for a return to service.

Councillors expressed concern over the future of the Pagoda Palace, in Peatmoor, a former Chinese restaurant which has been closed since January 2009, at Tuesday night’s planning committee meeting in the civic offices.

However, a planning officer in charge of the case revealed it had been bought by someone who hopes to open a Chinese restaurant.

James Gregory, a partner at commercial property consultant Alder King, based at Little London Court in Old Town, confirmed that the long lease hold interest for the site was bought at auction 10 days ago.

He said: “That interest has been bought by a restaurant operator who is looking to open it as a buffet style Chinese restaurant.”

Coun Dale Heenan, chairing the meeting, said: “It’s a landmark building that people recognise. If it’s replaced it needs that presence.”

The planning committee was meeting to approve a development brief for the Pagoda Palace to assist in negotiations with agents seeking to re-develop the site. The motion was carried by a majority.

Coun Heenan confirmed there was no planning application on the site at present.

A planning officer said there had been numerous approaches from people enquiring about the site for all sorts of different purposes including development.

At the meeting, numerous councillors expressed concern about the site being developed as housing.

Ward councillor Keith Williams (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) said: “We don’t want to see the Pagoda Palace go.

“It would be nice to see the site returned to its former glory.”

He said it was believed that the West Swindon site had lost customers due to Chinese restaurants setting up in the town centre.

Coun Doreen Dart (Con, Blunsdon) said: “It’s one of those buildings that attracts the eye, it’s very distinctive and when it first opened it was very popular. I would like to see it come back as a restaurant.”

Coun Rex Barnett (Con, Haydon Wick) said the council should consider using the building as a community centre because it was such a unique building.

The council’s legal adviser said the only way to prevent the use of the site for certain purposes was to get the building listed by English Heritage.

He said that any planning decisions on the future of the Pagoda Palace would still have to go through the planning committee in the usual way.

Coun Vera Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads) said she wanted it noted that it was the will of the planning committee that the building remain intact if at all possible, adding: “It’s part of our future and we need to look after these sorts of buildings.”