A Costa Coffee drive-through could be coming to Andover after plans were submitted to Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC).

The plans propose the construction of the drive through next to the petrol station and McDonalds at the junction of Watery Lane and New Street. Two unoccupied retails units will be demolished if the work is approved, with one being replaced while the other will make way for Costa Coffee.

If approved, this will be Costa Coffee’s fourth store in town, complementing those at Andover Business Park, the bus station and the high street. It would be the second drive through.

The site at Monro’s Corner was formerly a car dealership. In 2014, the site was redeveloped with a McDonalds’ drive through, while the petrol station and shop were maintained.

The former car dealership was extended to form two retail units, which have over time been given permission for other uses such as use as a car testing facility and dental surgery. However, these units have remained unoccupied.

As a result, plans for the site were submitted on December 21, and validated by TVBC on January 8. They propose demolishing the current unit, and replacing it with a Costa Coffee ‘pod’ and drive through. Another retail unit will be built behind the coffee shop, while an outdoor seating area will also be created.

The coffee shop will create 18 jobs in total, which will be a mixture of full and part time shifts. It is proposed that it will open from 6:30am to 10:30pm on Mondays to Saturdays, and 8:00am to 10:30pm on Sundays.

The plans are set to be considered at a meeting of Andover Town Council’s planning committee this evening (February 1), with TVBC’s planning officers to decide on the fate of the plans at a later date.