A prominent Prestwich building is set for changes after closing as a bank branch last week.

The NatWest branch on Bury New Road, closed on October 18 after the rise of online banking led to a drop off in footfall at the branch with in-person transactions falling by almost 70 per cent.

The bank now has just a single branch open in the borough in Bury town centre with another branch a little closer to Prestwich in Cheetham Hill.

In a letter to customers prior to the closure, NatWest said that closing the branch was ‘a difficult decision and not one that we take lightly’.

In a planning application published by Bury Council this week the bank have requested permission to return the building to its pre-existing state following the branch closure. The application stated that the closure had led to 11 full time employees who worked at the Bury New Road site no longer being employed at the branch.

Features of the building are two pillars either side of the main entrance and an ornate clock above the front door. A design and access statement detailing the plans, said: “This statement has been prepared to support our full planning application to close this branch for NatWest.

“Works externally will include main entrance all fascias, signs and marketing being removed.” The application requested permission to remove the ATM from the Bury New Road and infill with brickwork with similar work done after the removal of the night safe plate on Clifton Road.

The application said that the building would not be materially altered by the works. The statement, said: ” The proposal will not have any further impact on the site as it will retain the same building configuration and the access will retain the same position.

“The removal of the of the ATM and night safe will not impact significantly on the building as the opening will be in filled with matching brickwork and mortar colour. “All existing original features will not be affected by the proposed works.

“The proposal seeks to preserve the overall appearance of the building.”

No details were included in the latest planning application about the future use of the building.