Two new fast food outlets could provide more than 60 full and part-time jobs in the centre of Wisbech.
The unit, at 12 Lynn Road in Wisbech, has been empty since Bodgers, a 160 year-old gardening machinery sales and repair business, closed last summer.
The application to Fenland District Council is for a change of use from a retail unit to a hot food takeaway, the installation of extraction and ventilation equipment and the installation of a replacement shopfront.
The proposed takeaway, which would be 170 square metres in size, would operate between 11am and 11pm and create about 35 jobs, with people hired from the Wisbech area.
The building’s interior would be altered to accommodate the new hot food takeaway store, but the door to the rear of the site would remain in place and be used as the main access point by delivery drivers delivering takeaway food.
The customer service area would be located at the front of the store, with the oven and bake and serve area behind the counter. The store would also incorporate a cold room, store room, office area and toilets.
There would be free parking in front of the takeaway and customers would also use the existing parking area to the rear of the site.
The existing shopfront would be replaced with a new aluminium framed shopfront, which the applicant said would have “no harmful impact” on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
The applicant said: “The existing shopfront is not particularly attractive and the site is not within a Conservation Area. It is therefore considered that the new shopfront would have no harmful impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
“It is not considered that the proposed use as a takeaway would create a significant increase in vehicle movements from the previous use as a retail store and would therefore have no significant detrimental impact on the surrounding highway network.
“It would provide adequate parking for its employees and customers.
“There are a number of bus stops located further up Lynn Road which provide services to nearby towns such as King’s Lynn. Wisbech Bus Station is also within close proximity of the application site.
“As such it is considered the site is within a sustainable location and can be easily accessed via existing public transport links.”
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