A popular pizzeria which has dozens of restaurants across the country could be coming to Altrincham, plans suggest.

A planning application submitted last year outlines utilising a vacant building on Central Way, the former One Central unit, to form a new pizza restaurant with shop frontage, plus a small extension to the rear.

Although Rudy's isn't directly named, the application was made by Mission Mars, which runs the successful Manchester-based Albert's Schloss bar and just the one popular pizza brand.

Rudy's opened its first pizzeria in Ancoats in 2015 and has since expanded across Greater Manchester with three restaurants in the city centre (Ancoats, Peter Street and Portland Street) plus Chorlton, Didsbury and Northenden Road in Sale, which opened in May 2022.

It also has restaurants in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham but isn't showing any signs of slowing down on its Greater Manchester domination as the company made another application for to open a restaurant in Prestwich, Bury, earlier this year.

In the past nine years, the restaurant has climbed the ranks in popularity and shot to fame for its classic Italian pizzas made with fresh dough in a Neapolitan-style base with a variety of toppings, including vegan and vegetarian alternatives.

While the Altrincham application, submitted in August, is still waiting for Trafford Council's verdict, it proposes stretching over both the first and ground floors of the vacant One Central food and drink hub which was last used as a karate centre.

The blueprint of the plans show the ground floor and mezzanine would contain several seating areas, a bar and a pizza prep station with a large circular oven.

It could also have a large glass-panelled ceiling while the single-storey extension would make way for a new disabled toilet.

The first floor would then contain staff facilities and customer toilets.

In a heritage assessment by Design306, the consultants found the current empty building makes a "negative contribution to the setting" and that the pizza restaurant's plans with its muted colours and black shop front would be "more appropriate" and have a positive impact in the area more generally.

While no objections have been posted publicly to the plans, one letter of support from a member of the public reads: "I would fully support the transformation of this building and continued use for food/beverage.

"The transformation of this building will change the area for better from its current status which is poor for Altrincham - a boarded-up building in such prime real estate.

"The demand in Altrincham for independent and top-quality food and beverage establishments continues to grow.

"This summer there have been countless times where this area around the market is full with people.

"This company has a strong track record of successful businesses.

"This will also bring in other people from other local areas due to the reputation of this restaurant bringing in other economic benefits."

Mission Mars has been contacted for comment.