TWO food and drink chain stores are in line to take over from a former restaurant on an Evesham business park.

New plans show coffee chain Costa and bakery Greggs moving into the former Frankie & Benny’s restaurant at Four Pools Retail Park.

Around 18 jobs will be created according to the planning application submitted to Wychavon District Council.

If the plans are approved, the restaurant will be converted into a Greggs and drive-through Costa and will join a new PureGym, which opened in April, on the business park as well as The Range, Halfords and Pets at Home.

A statement with the application said: “The application is a straightforward application that arises as the existing food and drink operator, Frankie & Benny’s, will shortly be vacating the unit and the application is required to enable occupation of the floor space by Greggs and Costa Coffee.

“As the floor space is operated by an occupier selling food and drinks, the new occupiers will also provide operations selling food and drink and there is no increase in floor space, it follows there is no material change in land use terms from the operations that are presently being carried out.”

It continued: “The proposed development is locationally specific as it physically and functionally links to the wider retail park.

“Rather than acting as a primary destination in its own right, the facility will meet the needs of the shoppers who already visit the retail park.

“Providing the same floorspace within Evesham or another centre would not meet the same operator customer need.”

The plans can be viewed via the planning section of Wychavon District Council’s website, application number 21/01178/FUL, with public consultation ending on June 17.

The permanent closure of the Italian restaurant in Evesham means there is no longer a Frankie & Benny’s in Worcestershire.