A POPULAR cafe has announced plans to more than double in size as business booms in Malmesbury.

The Summer Cafe in the High Street will expand into the premises next door, which are currently vacant.

Owner Debbie Wood said the expansion would at least double the amount of customers the business can currently seat, while creating at least three jobs.

A planning application was approved by Wiltshire Council on Monday.

A condition to change the use of the former shop next door from a retail outlet to food and drink use was passed.

The cafe will be expanding into the space formerly occupied by woman’s clothes shop Lula and Sailor.

Debbie is delighted with the venture.

“We are always really, really busy and we were desperate for more space before the shop became available,” she said.

“With the expansion we are going from fitting roughly 25 customers to around 60, at least doubling in size.

“This is ridiculously exciting news and has been a long time in the planning."

Debbie plans to start work imminently with a target date to finish the expansion before the end of May.

“We already have a great building team, Dan Bailey Building Contractors,” said Debbie.

“They start today, and although we don’t have a target date yet, we are hoping to finish the expansion in three weeks.

“We will be staying open throughout the work.

“They will start work on the other shop where the expansion will go before they start work on this cafe."

The cafe will be taking on new staff with two part time jobs and a full time job thought to be available once the expansion is completed.

Malmesbury town councillor Gavin Grant welcomed the news.

“What people want‎ from their town centres is changing,” he said.

“Well run cafes and restaurants are increasingly successful.

“Malmesbury has several thanks to their hard working owners and staff.

“It is great to see one of our most successful cafes expanding to meet this increasing demand.”