A SECOND restaurant bar in Wisbech is set to be converted to housing if planners agree to allow the Chameleon in West Street to be turned into four flats.

Cambs Times: W Four in WisbechW Four in Wisbech (Image: Archant)

Just weeks after planners agreed to allow Wisbech Town Football Club chairman Barry Carter to convert W4 in Exchange Square to housing a similar application has been made by the Chameleon’s owners.

Cambs Times: Design awards presentation night. Lucille Carter proudly holds the winner's trophyDesign awards presentation night. Lucille Carter proudly holds the winner's trophy (Image: Archant)

Despite the Chameleon being raved about recently on the TripAdvisor website – one visitor being “astounded that there are not queues around the block for their Sunday lunch”- the owners have employed consultants to turn it into flats.

The two storey premises originally comprised three houses before being knocked into a single unit.

“It still retains the aesthetic of residential accommodation,” says Springwheel Associates in an application to Fenland Council.

A confidential statement about trading conditions – similar to that prepared by owners of the Exchange- accompanies the planning application.

Fenland Council, who approved change of use for W4, said in their recent decision notice that it was not desirable to lose town centre facilities.

However as the restaurant had been advertised for a year with no interest and they were satisfied it had was running at a loss, they agreed to allow a change of use.

Ironically just three years ago W4 was overall winner of the Cambs Times/Wisbech Standard/Fenland Council Building Design of the Year competition.

Editor John Elworthy told guests at the award ceremony the Carter family persevered with a project of which Fenland could be proud.

Ironically a previous building design winner- Wodehouse Farm Park at Friday Bridge- also became a victim of the recession. It too closed and gained approval for housing.