NORTHWICH could soon be rivalling Seattle when it comes to coffee houses.

Approval has been granted for plans to turn the former restored furniture shop at 38 Witton Street into a coffee house, with permission for eight outdoor tables, allowing caffeine fans to enjoy a drink of their favourite brew al fresco.

The building, next to Clarks shoe shop and across from Benny Bings, is the latest in a growing line of businesses bringing food and drink to the town.

When considering the change of use application, which will see the loss of another primary high street retail premises, planning officers said the unit had been vacant, adequately marketed and met criteria allowing permission to be granted.

This includes retaining a shop window and active frontage, maintaining and enhancing the town’s pedestrian footfall, vitality and viability, as well as contributing to the town’s historic cultural identity. Ground floor residential use will not be included as part of the development.

Opening hours are proposed as Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm and 9am to 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Case Officer Jacques Carboni said: “It is not considered that the use of the unit as a cafe would have the potential to create a significant impact on any of the surrounding premises through noise generation.

“Furthermore, it is acknowledged that the applicant site and surrounding properties are already subjected to high levels of noise due to the town centre location. In the scenario of an approval, a condition will be attached to limit the hours of operation to those proposed.”

Approval comes weeks after independently-owned coffee shop BEAR revealed plans to open its sixth site overlooking the River Weaver in 2020, neighbouring Barons Quay Social, and work on Coffee House, also in Barons Quay, continues.

With five Costas in and around the town, as well as Abda, Viva, Board Beans, Bratts cafe, Kanya, Charlies and Asda cafe - is Northwich set to become Cheshire's 'gourmet coffee capital'?