Former Derbyshire Chinese restaurant to be torn down for shops

The new development, in Egginton Road, Hilton, will be smaller than the existing building

A former Chinese restaurant in a Derbyshire village will be demolished to make way for modern retail units.

South Derbyshire District Council approved plans to bulldoze the Mandarin restaurant - formerly the White Swan Inn - in Egginton Road, Hilton.

The former 19th-century pub will make way for a modern timber-clad block of three retail units.

Midbrook Commercial Developments, behind the scheme, said the restaurant was "no longer viable".

In papers submitted to the council, the company said the former pub had been marketed for sale for 18 months after a reduction in car parking facilities meant it was no longer "economically viable".

Talking at a meeting on Tuesday, Charles Cuddington, speaking on behalf of Hilton Parish Council, said he was "pleased" with the new design for the retail units, which are "much more in keeping with the street scene".

The Mandarin restaurant has been up for sale for 18 months but has received no interest

However, he said he would like to see the metal cladding on the lower portion of the block changed to timber cladding like the rest of the building.

George Henshaw, agent for the developers, claimed 50% of Hilton residents responding to a village survey felt local facilities were "poor", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

He said the former Mandarin restaurant "has attracted anti-social behaviour and is a blight on the area", adding "Hilton is crying out for new facilities".

"It is one of the last brownfield sites in Hilton and without it, developers will be forced to build on greenfield sites," Mr Henshaw said.