Plans have been lodged for a restaurant and takeaway in a bed shop in Chippenham.

The owner of the Hathaway Retail Park has applied to convert one of the units into what would be the site’s first eat-in venue.

The unit is currently occupied by Bensons for Beds, which says it has no plans to move.

Aegon UK Property Fund has applied to Wiltshire Council to change the use of the building to mixed restaurant and takeaway use.

Its application says no tenant has yet been identified for any development there.

The existing bed store has eight full-time equivalent employees, but the application says a restaurant at the site could employ as many as 39 people.

A spokesperson for Bensons said it was aware of the landlord’s planning application but had no current plans to leave the Chippenham store.

The original 1987 planning permission for the retail park did not allow for food businesses there, but in 2015 planners approved the idea of using a fifth of the Bensons unit for takeaway food.

Two years ago, the council agreed that another unit at the park could be used for selling food, and that now houses a Greggs outlet.

A document submitted to the council by Aegon’s agents Planware says: “The proposal seeks to provide greater flexibility within the use class to re-let the unit and also provide a broader range of uses within the wider side, adding to the retail and leisure offering.”

It acknowledges that there could be “a relatively small increase in traffic” and “a slight increase in parking demand.”

“It is noted that the proposal provides for a restaurant on site, whilst also allowing for takeaway. This allows customers to dine in, or takeaway, at the customer’s choice.

"This will allow a number of joint and linked trips to the retail park and help strengthen the range and diversity of retail offerings in this location, further enhancing the site’s overall vitality and viability.

“The proposal will help diversify the retail park, increasing the retail offer, whilst providing additional jobs. The change of use will facilitate an increase in employment opportunities within the site.”

It is not known when Bensons’ lease on the unit runs out.