COUNCILLORS and business leaders say a national coffee chain opening a shop in Bingley is a further boost for the town.

Costa Coffee will be opening a branch in an empty unit in the 5 Rise shopping centre.

The British chain was granted planning permission in January this year to change the use of two empty units in the centre into a cafe, and create an outdoor seating area.

The business will open from 6.30am to 8pm and create around 12 jobs. Costa has now been granted planning permission for signage by Bradford Council, but an opening date has yet to be announced.

It is a further boost to the town after supermarket chain Lidl earlier this year announced plans to open a supermarket on the site of the former Bradford & Bingley headquarters in Main Street. A planning application for that scheme is to be submitted to the Council later this year.

Richard Holmes, honorary vice-president of Bingley Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: “It is a sign of the improving situation for the retail offer in Bingley that somebody like Costa wants to come here. It is a good step forward.

“People do like Costa. It’s another reason for people to come into Bingley and continue to come back.

“The retail offer in the town is improving. The fact that Lidl are coming across the road on Main Street further shows Bingley in a positive light.”

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said: “It’s good that a national chain is coming to the town, complementing the investment made by Lidl here too.

“There have been a couple of empty retail units in the shopping centre for a number of years, so it’s good that one of them will be filled.

“It is certainly a good boost for Bingley.”

Costa already has coffee shops across the district including in the city centre, Shipley, Ilkley and Greengates.