French restaurant group Le Bistrot Pierre is eyeing a Grade II listed building for its first venue in Birmingham on the city's bustling canalside near Broad Street.
The Nottingham-based company has lodged plans to convert Waterside House, at 46 Gas Street, into a restaurant expected to create 30 jobs.
The building was formerly the head office of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal Company.
Privately owned Le Bistrot Pierre announced in 2012 that it wanted to open its first restaurant in Birmingham but the project has yet to come to fruition.
If successful, it would join a stable of 13 venues including two in Warwickshire, Leicester and Nottingham.
The new restaurant, a revision on a previous application, will now have a ground floor external seating area with views overlooking the building's courtyard and Birmingham's famous Gas Street Basin.
Rob Beacham, co-owner of Le Bistrot Pierre, said: "With restaurants in nearby Leamington and Stratford, our customers in the local area have been keen for us to open one of our restaurants in Birmingham.
"We have been looking for a suitable location in Birmingham for a while and are delighted our plans are moving a step forward. We will be situated in a prime location near the water and a great part of the city."
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The Gas Street building was constructed in the early 19th century and has two floors and a basement.
It sits opposite Gas Retort House, which recently and was most recently used as office accommodation.
The building, along with neighbouring 44 and 48 Gas Street, was awarded Grade II status in 1982.
The redevelopment has been designed by Devon-based Gillespie Yunnie Architects which said the project would re-open an archway to the canal which was blocked up in the 1970s.
It added: "Investigations show the original brick structural arch remains behind a modern render skin and four-inch brickwork.
"The intention is to use the vaulted tunnel as toilets and wine storage with the latter being visible through an external glazed screen to the canal towpath."
This is the latest in a long line of planned restaurant openings in Birmingham including Sussex-based chain Bill's, and Cosy Club, which recently
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