LAND which was home to a much-loved community cafe for almost four decades could be redeveloped into a new retail hub - including an international coffee chain.

The volunteer-run Cubby operated out of a portable cabin on the site, on Greenwell Road, for 37 years before moving to its new base at Neville Parade Community Centre in 2015.

Formerly owned by Durham County Council, the land was sold to Sheet Anchor Investments, which owns the adjoining retail parade, and the cabin was removed.

The company has now submitted an application to build four retail units, including a Costa Coffee, on the site which is currently part grassed and part tarmacked.

Plans show the four units would be located in pairs at opposite ends of the site - with a car park with 28 spaces, including three disabled bays, in between, with access from Greenwell Road

Two of the units would be built at the south-east of the land, on the corner of Greenwell Road and Central Avenue.

The larger of the two units would house a Costa Coffee which would have an external seating area. The other two units would be located at the north-west of the site, joining onto Domino’s Pizza, which is in the company’s existing parade of shops leading to the Tesco Extra store.

A submitted design and access document states: “It is considered that the proposed layout would allow for the effective and efficient redevelopment of the brownfield site. It is also considered that the development is in an accessible location which is served by a number of bus routes which stop along Central Avenue.”