An 18th century former coaching inn could soon be welcoming travellers for their caffeine fix

Plans have been submitted to transform the Grade II-listed building beside the A2 at Dunkirk into a Costa coffee shop with a drive-thru.

The site at the Gate Services, on the London-bound carriageway between Canterbury and Faversham, was previously a Little Chef.

It was then run as the roadside greasy spoon Sheila’s Kitchen, which had a big reputation for its hearty breakfasts.

But it closed down some years ago and has been empty and derelict ever since.

The site owner, Motor Fuel Ltd, which runs the adjacent Esso garage, had previously applied for permission to launch a new coffee shop at the rear of the filling station, which was approved.

But now it plans to sympathetically convert the old coaching house instead, adding a small extension for the drive-thru.

The development - which backs onto a Travelodge hotel - will also include a 32-space car park, an eight-bay EV car charging hub and even stands for 10 bicycles.

The applicants say the proposal will bring a currently vacant listed building into active use and preserve it for the future.

In their proposal, they add: “The proposed coffee shop utilises the listed, vacant, former coaching inn, bringing it back into active use and continuing its role meeting motorists’ needs and expectations.

“In addition, the proposal will provide additional jobs alongside the EV facility which is entirely in line with local and Government expectations.”

Agents for the applicant say trees within the amenity and car parking area of the former diner will have to be removed.

But the scheme does include their replacement with new trees and the layout has been designed to retain all trees and woodland to the east and south of the site, which they say provides acoustic protection and visual amenity.

Concluding the application, the agents say: “There is nothing within the planning history of the site that prevents the current proposal coming forward.”

The application is now in the hands of Swale council.