A planning application to convert a village restaurant into three houses has been resubmitted to North Herts District Council (NHDC).

The Comet: Jack Gao and his wife Ting outside their restaurant Offley OrientalJack Gao and his wife Ting outside their restaurant Offley Oriental (Image: Archant)

The application is to change Offley Oriental in Offley into a one four bed house and build another two four bed houses.

This is the second time an application has been made by the owner of the Luton Road restaurant, Rocco Mingalone, to NHDC.

In October, the Comet reported that the lease holders of the eatery, Jack and Ting Gao, who have ran the business for the past seven years and live above the restaurant with their two children, learnt of the news after they had agreed to buy the freehold of the property.

The couple had at the time gained 200 signatures in objection of the application, which was later withdrawn due to a technicality.

Mr and Mrs Gao are again calling on people to object to the application.

At the time of the first application Mr Mingalone said he had submitted the application to the council as a back-up in case the business did not prove viable in the future, which would then allow him to move forward with his is plans.