National coffee shop chain Costa is eyeing a vacant former bank building in Moseley for its latest café in Birmingham.
The firm has lodged plans to open a new outlet in 19 St Mary's Row next to the Bull's Head pub which was last occupied by Barclays bank until the branch closed in summer 2014.
Costa has employed property agency Savills to secure planning permission to convert the 2,454 sq ft building so it can house 27 tables over the ground and first floors, capable of accommodating 65 people.
The move is likely to generate controversy as the suburb thrives on its reputation for supporting independent pubs, cafés and shops and the decision by Boston Tea Party to open a restaurant in Moseley early next year has recently caused outcry on social media.
Independent cafés in the vicinity include Cafephilia, Java Lounge and Damascena and Costa already has sites across the city centre, Kings Heath and one of the city's only drive-thru coffee shops on the Calthorpe Estate in Edgbaston.
Kerry Parkin, head of communications at Costa, said: "We are proud to be a British-grown, tax-paying company and, while we are a national brand, we work hard to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve.
"Our aim is not to dominate the local market. We operate alongside independent businesses across the country, targeting a different section of the market - bringing more customer choice to the High Street and offering people another place to meet and socialise."
A letter written by Savills supporting the application said: "The proposed scheme will have no harm to local amenity.....(it) will result in a vacant unit being brought back into use to the benefit of the local economy and the vibrancy of the parade."
