Teddington Nub News can exclusively reveal that plans are well advanced for the old National Westminster Bank at the corner of High Street and Station Road is to become part of the massive Pret a Manger sandwich bar chain.

Plans have been submitted to Richmond Borough for significant illuminated signage of the building, claiming it will provide 'an improvement frontage to the site.' It is proposed the sandwich bar will take up the ground floor of the three-story building and includes outside seating.

Pret, founded in 1983, has a total of 324 sandwich shops in London alone and employees over 12000 people nationally so will offer significant job opportunities locally.

A decision is due to be made on June 9th and documents show that the 'neighbour notification' process began on April 14th.

Documents underline the plans for the lower ground floor of the building.

Outside seating will be included within Pret a Manger's Teddington site.

Despite this, the news has come as a surprise to other high street businesses.

One speaking to Teddington Nub News said: "The High Street has become a mixture of cafes, hairdressers, nail bars and charity shops and the danger is that if there are no actual shops people just won't bother to go out."

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According to Savills, the estate agents which has submitted the application, it says: "The installation of signage is not considered to harm the architectural interest of the building, as a locally listed building, nor is it considered to harm the Teddington High Street Conservation Area. 6.1.3.

 "The proposals are considered to accord to the relevant policies of the development plan and it is therefore respectfully requested that advertisement consent be granted."

There have been various rumours about the future of the site since the controversial closure of the bank in October 2017 when Nat West blamed the 'dramatic shift' to banking online.

A decision regarding the planning application for advertising will be made on June 6th however it is not known when the sandwich bar will officially open to customers.

According to the Savills submission: "Pret seeks to open a new sandwich shop store trading at 6 High Street, Teddington. Advertisement consent is sought for appropriate signage. 6.1.2. The proposed external works are located fronting High Street and Station Road and as such will provide an improvement frontage to the site.

"The installation of signage is not considered to harm the architectural interest of the building, as a locally listed building, nor is it considered to harm the Teddington High Street Conservation Area. 6.1.3. The proposals are considered to accord to the relevant policies of the development plan and it is therefore respectfully requested that advertisement consent be granted."

 In the application to the council from Joshua Price, the senior planner, Savills requests for 'express advertisement consent'.

He writes: "In summary, individually and collectively, the proposed signs maintain a high standard of design which is in keeping with the character and appearance of the building and its setting along its frontage facing the High Street and Station Road. The signage has been sensitively designed to reflect the appearance of the host building's shopfront and is not considered excessive or obstructive. The materials and form of illumination used are respectful, in keeping with, and complimentary to the host building and setting. The signage is an improvement to signage of the former occupier. "

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