A much-loved former Italian restaurant in Amersham could be turned into housing, under new plans submitted to the district council.

Developers want to build six new homes on the site of Guido’s in South Road, which closed on Christmas Day last year, the owner Guido Mazza having given it up after he was diagnosed with a major health problem a year ago.

He said: “I feel all mixed up and terrible. I am very, very sad.

“I tried to sell it [as a restaurant] but there was no uptake, so I sold it to a developer in the end.

“We were there 36 years. I just couldn’t do it anymore, and had to give it up.

“I feel bad but I don’t see an alternative. I am very sorry to have to do it.”

The popular restaurant could now be knocked down, with Tempietto Architects proposing to replace the building, which includes six existing flats above the restaurant, with houses.

The new homes will comprise of a mix of three and four-bedroom houses, which will be terraced and semi-detached.

Each home will have two off-street parking spaces and the four bedroom houses will have integral garages in addition, making a total of three spaces per house.

Developers say the aim of the project is to “produce buildings of high quality design that will be will assimilated into the surrounding streetscape”.

A previous application for the new homes was withdrawn earlier this year, although it is not known why.

A decision is expected to be made by Thursday, April 6.