A FAST food restaurant and Costa Coffee are set to join Lidl at the home of Colchester’s old Homebase, new plans have revealed.

The German supermarket giant has submitted a fresh application for the long-awaited new shop, which is set to be built off St Andrew’s Avenue.

New plans reveal details of the two additional units on site, as well as proposing a small increase in the size of the Lidl store.

One of the units will be home to a new restaurant with adjoining drive-thru, although the operator is not named, whilst the other will be home to Costa Coffee.

Costa already has seven coffee shops in Colchester, located everywhere from the town centre to the entrance building at Colchester Hospital.

A retail statement prepared by consultants Rapley’s said: “The proposed restaurant will offer the choice of eating internally or taking away from the counter or using the drive-thru, which will be located on the northern elevation of the building.

“Within the public part of the building are the dining area, counter and a corridor leading to the toilets.”

The Costa Coffee will offer takeaways and have a large seating area.

Lidl’s original application sparked complaints from supermarket giants Asda and Tesco, but was approved unanimously by Colchester Council’s planning committee in August last year.

Read more on the controversial supermarket plans:

The report adds: “The proposal will also not have any significant adverse impact on existing, committed and planned public and private investment in a centre or centres in the catchment area of the proposal.

“It will deliver many benefits for residents, including an improved range and choice of convenience goods, increased employment opportunities, and reduced journey times.

“The development also signals Lidl’s commercial intent to increase consumer choice within the county with the associated economic investment benefits. The application site is the only sustainable location outside of the town centre which can meet the applicant’s retail requirements.”

The new multi-million pound supermarket will create 40 jobs, with further employment opportunities at the other units.

Delays scuppered a proposed 2020 opening date with no new timeframe given.