UNCERTAINTY surrounds the future of an empty unit in Winchester city centre as another plan has been submitted for the space.

Loungers, which runs the Cosy Club and Lounges chains, was given permission to convert the former Next shop in August 2020, but then the Covid pandemic struck, and no work has taken place.

A new application has now been submitted by Tas Food Ltd for proposed siting of extraction equipment to roof plant area.

Companies House lists the applicants as take-away food shops and mobile food stands, but no indication has been given as to the type of eatery or chain that could move into the unit.

The application states: “The subject proposal is to locate extraction equipment to the roof of the premises on the roof plant area to facilitate the ground floor restaurant use.”

The unit has already been given the go-ahead to be converted into a café/restaurant from retail when Loungers applied to Winchester City Council.

Loungers has been contacted for a comment but it did not respond before the Chronicle went to print.