Popular Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons is planning to open a branch in Newport city centre.

The company has applied for planning permission for the change of use of the former Clark's shoe shop in Commercial Street.

The chain, which specialises in coffee, doughnuts and sandwiches, was first opened in 1964 in Hamilton, Canada, by Tim Horton, a National Hockey League legend.

TH UK and Ireland Ltd has submitted plans to Newport City Council for the change of use from retail to coffee shop at 40-41 Commercial Street, with alterations to the shop front and the installation of a roof plant. In a separate application the firm has requested permission for the installation of four internally illuminated fascia signs and two internally illuminated projecting signs.

The application site comprises a ground floor unit on the corner of Commercial Street and Llanarth Street, which was previously occupied

by Clarks but has been vacant apart from a number of 'pop-up' shops since Clarks moved out in September 2014

The site is located within the Town Centre Conservation Area and is not a listed building.

A report compiled by the Pegasus Group on behalf of the applicants said the new coffee shop would be open from 7am to 11pm daily and would create seven full time and 10 part time jobs.

Tim Horton's currently has more than 4,590 outlets worldwide and, the report said, 'has grown to become one of the most renowned brands in Canada' serving two billion cups of coffee per year in Canada alone.

The report said: "Tim Hortons is looking to invest in the UK and has identified the application site as an ideal location for a new Class A1/A3

use.

"This is an exciting proposal which will generate investment at the site and provide a number of job opportunities to local residents."