Plans for a new coffee shop and hot food takeaway in Ibstock have been given the go-ahead by North West Leicestershire District Council.

The applicant, Mr Jeff Fowkes, applied for the change of use for the building - formerly Fowkes Tyres - last November and described the proposed venture as a coffee shop and retail space in Station Road.

The application reads: "Change of use of existing car valeting building to retail/hot food takeaway with associated external alterations."

Additional information accompanying the scheme at the time, said: "We plan for the menu to be fairly basic.

"Light bites instead of meals.

"We will not be cooking anything in an oven.

"We may cook toasties with a toastie maker, or 'warm things', but nothing will be cooked in an over as such - and no extraction or flue is required.

"On the original plan for the building, there are 20 car parking spaces, but since this was completed, the area marked 'additional parking' is now available for at least 12 cars."

A revised planning application was submitted to the council in February.

It added: "An extensive search has been conducted in and around Ibstock and there are no preferable sites that can accommodate the existing/proposed café/retail space along with the amount of parking required.

"Sites within and adjacent to the Local Centre have been explored in accordance with guidance given from the Council.

"The assessment is clear that those sites which were considered were either unsuitable or unavailable.

"Only the application site is capable of accommodating the proposed café/retail space, including the level of parking required and which provides the necessary linkages with the existing premises.

"On the basis of this assessment, it is considered that the application site is the most sequentially preferable and logical location that is available and suitable.

"The proposed operating hours would not cause any residential amenity issues to surrounding residents - and would represent betterment in planning terms."