Costa will be moving into Faversham town centre.

In last week’s Faversham News we exclusively revealed that a well-known chain would be taking over a historic building in the Market Place.

The coffee giant Costa have now confirmed that they will be moving into the former Stead and Simpson shoe shop.

There is already a Costa inside Tesco in Crescent Road and the chain has more than 1,000 stores nationwide.

A planning application was submitted last Wednesday for a change of use from retail to retail and restaurant and Mayfair surveyors Ratcliffe’s confirmed it would be a well-known chain.

Costa spokesman Stacie Wood said today: "As the UK’s favourite coffee shop and one of the success stories on the UK high street, we work closely with planning departments across the country to open new stores for the benefit of their local communities, creating new jobs and providing attractive and popular social meeting places.

“We are currently evaluating opportunities and have submitted planning permission for a site in the Faversham, Kent area, but have no confirmed plans in place at this stage."

It seems the big brands are moving in to town, as the news comes just weeks after SUBWAY announced it will be setting up a counter in the Simply Fresh shop in Whitstable Road, joining Costa in Tesco and ASK in Court Street.

Nick Green who owns Jittermugs café in Preston Street said: “Ultimately we will need to up our game if a chain moves in, and show the service we provide and how our service is unique to Faversham.

“It is up to residents to make their minds up about which one they will use.

“A chain coffee shop will suck the life out of independent businesses and they won’t be bringing in anything different.

“When we started, we brought something different to Faversham.

“They are just the same as the other two in the big three – Nero, Costa and Starbucks. It’s such a shame.”

Nuala Brenchley-Sayers who owns The Vaults Cask and Kitchen in Preston Street said: “Some food outlets will improve the offering of the town, but not chains.

“They very rarely put a lot back into the town. They don’t use the local produce that independent eateries do in Faversham.

“They may employ local people but I don’t think they do any good to the local economy.”

The plans suggest that there will be “no adverse affect” on the historical front part of the building, which was built in the 16 century.

A commemorative plaque on the building suggests that King James II was brought to the building after he tried to escape the country in 1688.

You can make a comment on the planning application by visiting www.ukplanning.com/swale and searching for reference number SW/14/0496