CHARD shoppers could soon be able to grab a coffee or hot pasty after doing their shop in one of their town’s two biggest supermarkets, writes Daniel Mumby, Local Democracy Reporter.

Wells-based developer Viabill Ltd. has applied for permission to construct a new drive-thru outlet on the southern side of Tapstone Road, near the town’s Lidl and Tesco stores.

Plans have also been submitted by the same companies to partially refurbish one of the neighbouring buildings to create six new industrial units.

South Somerset District Council is expected to make a decision on both proposals before the summer.

Both sites lie within the wider Brecknell Willis complex, with the drive-thru area comprising a former staff car park which is no longer required.

Customers using the planned drive-thru lane will enter from Tapstone Road near the existing Brecknell Willis entrance and exit near the existing junction into the Tesco store and petrol station.

Viabill has not confirmed which company could end up operating the drive-thru, claiming this will be announced once the outline planning permission has been secured.

For this reason, it has also not revealed how many jobs the outlet is likely to create.

Chard already has a Costa Coffee outlet on the A30 Fore Street, as well as a smaller concession within the recently-completed leisure centre – so any coffee outlet in the space is likely to be operated by Starbucks or a similar competitor.

Plans were recently approved for a new McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru on the A303 near Ilminster – but the size of the Chard unit is likely to be too small for these purposes, being less than half the size of the planned takeaway.

A spokesman for Boon Brown Architects (representing the applicant) said: “The proposals have the benefit of offering a complementary facility, enhancing the attractiveness of the wider commercial area by offering food and drink facilities within close proximity to a range of large employers.

“Its intent would be to service the commercial area, [and] given its location it would not compete with anything on the high street.”

The six new industrial units will be created near the drive-thru by partially demolishing an existing building, which is described as being in “a poor state of repair”.

The Boon Brown spokesman added: “Given the prevalence of larger commercial units in the area (a significant proportion of the Tapstone/ Millfield commercial area is occupied by two companies), this would allow some diversification of the building stock.”

Up to 40 car parking spaces will be provided for the users of the new units and visitors to the wider site.

The council will make a decision on both sets of proposals before the summer.