A popular Suffolk farm shop situated near the A12 is seeking permission to develop a 'drive-thru' cafe in a mobile shipping container to provide takeaway hot and cold drinks and snacks.
Friday Street Farm, between Aldeburgh and Saxmundham, is hoping to add a 'further income stream' to its existing business as a shop, cafe and pick-your-own fruit farm.
If approved by East Suffolk Council, the shipping container will be sited on an area of open grassland next to an existing car park and an electric car charging facility.
READ MORE: Christmas tasting event at Friday Street Farm in Suffolk
The farm uses the area to provide overflow parking during peak periods.
The existing car parking provision will be increased from approximately 24 to 56 spaces, with an additional nine spaces allocated for staff parking.
In a design and access statement, the developer's architects Hollins Architects said: "The ‘drive-thru’ element will provide a further income stream to strengthen the overall viability of the
existing business and will create some modest additional employment opportunities for the local community.
READ MORE: Saxmundham news
The arable farm, which is also close to the A1094 Aldeburgh road, was established as a retail business in 1976 and has grown to include a butchery, delicatessen, walk-in cheese room, a kitchen serving meals every day and a permanent on-site fishmonger.
The architects said the proposal would not 'hinder the main farming activities' and the modest scale of the container would 'relate well to the existing operation,' while there would be a 'negligible impact' on the surrounding countryside.
"In this case, the scheme will help to maintain the financial viability of a well-established farm retail enterprise which provides much needed services and jobs for the local and wider community.
"Therefore, we believe this application should be supported for approval," the architects added.
READ MORE: Suffolk news
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here