STARBUCKS is planning to open a coffee shop in Stroud town centre. 

Five Valleys has applied to Stroud District Council for permission to change the former Poundland and Woolworths shop unit on King Street from retail to takeaway and restaurant use. 

The shopping centre has also requested to create an outdoor seating space with two new exterior umbrellas and planters as well as the Starbucks signage. 

Starbucks would join other brands in Stroud like Coffee #1 which is metres away on George Street and Costa which is in the high street. 

There are also already a vast array of independent coffee shops including: Rough Hands Coffee, Loganberry, Little Ginger Deli and Cafe, Woodruffs Organic Cafe, Milano's Coffee House, Penny Farthing Cafe, Silver Rooms Cafe, Mills Cafe and The Star Anise Arts Cafe.

Previously the nearest Starbucks was at Oldbury service station in Stonehouse near the M5. 

According to council documents a statement says: “The layout of the unit would be altered to best suit a coffee shop setting and so that the kitchen and behind of the house area works seamlessly.

Stroud News and Journal: A first look at what Stroud Starbucks could look like, drawings by Frank Belshaw A first look at what Stroud Starbucks could look like, drawings by Frank Belshaw

“We intend to enhance the appearance of the building to bring the store in line with the current Starbucks Specification.”

A heritage statement says: “The store located on King Street, is street full of shops that contains everything from clothing stores to health stores to fast food stores and coffee shops.

“All these stores display their own individual character whilst also keeping the universal look of the street intact.

“Except from the structural features there is no common theme and therefore no hard and fast rules can be applied to the design.

“Next door is a listed building but external works are minimal, the original exterior is to be kept original as much as possible whilst installing planters to compliment the exterior.” 

The coffee shop would be next to the new health centre and MP Siobhan Baillie’s constituency office.

In the application there aren’t any details about opening times, since the application is only to decorate the exterior of the building to bring the store into line with Starbucks latest brand standards.

Anyone wishing to view or comment on this application should do by email to planning@stroud.gov.uk or by visiting www.stroud.gov.uk/planning quoting reference S.22/1697/FUL