A COFFEE chain is one step closer to opening a new café and drive-through close to Andover town centre.

Costa Coffee was given permission in October last year to demolish one unit and partially demolish another to construct a coffee shop in New Street, next to the BP garage.

Concerns were previously raised by Andover Town Council’s planning committee that the operation could cause tailbacks across the nearby roundabout.

Now, Test Valley Borough Council have given the green light for range of signs to be erected, including illuminated signs, but with conditions.

Costa had applied to display two internally illuminated fascia signs and eight external signs - mix of internally illuminated and non-illuminated – but an objection was raised by town councillors.

The town council considered that the proposal would be “detrimental to neighbouring properties” and argued that the lighting should only be on during the hours of 7am and 11pm.

Environmental Health raised no concerns and said the signs were unlikely to “have an adverse impact upon residential properties by virtue of excessive illumination or glare when viewed from residential properties”.

In giving permission, planning chiefs restricted the illumination of the advertisements to 6.30am to 10.30pm Monday to Sunday and 8am to 10.30am on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The council said: “The proposed advertisements are appropriate in scale, materials and siting to the building on which they are to be sited and it is considered they would not have a negative impact on the appearance of the built or natural environment.

“The number of advertisements has been reduced to remove the signs on top of the Costa coffee pod and the totem pole.”

The company also agreed to a condition in respect of limitations on the candela per square metre and no light source being visible

The new café will be constructed next to the petrol station and McDonalds at the junction of Watery Lane and New Street and would be the coffee chain’s fourth outlet in Andover and the second drive-through.

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