Repairs approved for listed Pizza Express building

The building was given the Grade II listing in 1973

The first phase of repair works on a Grade II listed building in a city have been approved by a council.

The building in Peterborough's Cathedral Square, which is currently occupied by Pizza Express, was built in the early 20th century.

Pizza Express Limited was granted planning permission for maintenance and repair work by Peterborough City Council on Friday, which included remedial works to the side and rear of the building's exterior.

The building's frontage features five painted statues of historical figures, including Aethelwold Bishop of Winchester, King Peada of Mercia and Henry VIII.

Remedial works

Pizza Express has been a feature of Cathedral Square for more than a decade.

The company was founded in 1965 by the late Peterborough resident, restauranteur and philanthropist Peter Boizot MBE.

Mr Boizot was nicknamed locally as "Mr Peterborough" because of the work and money he invested into his hometown.

Plans for the works came after it was identified that Pizza Express had not acted sufficiently since October 2007 to conserve, repair, maintain and decorate the premises as required by the terms of its occupational lease.

Planning documents stated: "The intention is to put the premises back into a state of good and substantial repair that is in keeping with the character of the premises that would have existed at the date of the commencement of the Conservation Area in 1969 and at the date of the listing in 1973."

Further remedial works were planned for the ornate frontage facing Cathedral Square as part of the second phase, with interior works to take place during the third phase.