A two-storey addition “with generous shopfront glazing” will be added to the back of the former PRD real estate building for a shop on the ground floor and mezzanine level and garage space for two vehicles.

The existing building and a single-storey extension will house the restaurant and a storeroom, and the footpath awning will be extended along the building’s Sale Street facade with skylights for an 11-metre outdoor eating area.

Development services director David Waddell said council staff had met with the developer on several occasions to go through the design and provided preliminary advice through its heritage advisor.

“This is a high quality development on a high profile site. It is great to see such a quality development in that location,” he said.

The development’s town planner Peter Basha said an Orange-based company was behind the venture, but the owner declined to be named.

Mr Basha said the development, lodged with council last month, would improve and adaptively re-use the prominent corner, in the development application to council.

“The proposal for a restaurant and outdoor dining area has the potential to activate this corner and bring vibrancy to this section of the CBD,” he said.

“The proposed works will complement the architecture of the building with positive impacts upon the streetscape and setting.”

An artwork panel along the Sale Street wall of the building is proposed to connect the old section with two-storey extension.

The building’s ground floor had a long history as a shop before it became a real estate office, Mr Basha said.

The owner is asking the council to consider the parking credits leftover from the building’s life as a shop to offset any potential parking shortage.

The business’ peak operating times will be at night when other CBD businesses are closed meaning there will be less demand for parking, according to the DA.