Another national chain has signed up to take a space in the long-awaited Chequers Court development in Huntingdon.

Manor maker GP Limited, the owner and developer of the retail scheme in the centre of the town, confirmed to The Hunts Post that it has exchanged contracts and secured Italian coffee chain Caffè Nero.

The store is expected to create several new jobs when it opens.

Construction work on the shop-ping development, which is being built on the site of a former Inland Revenue office, is expected to be complete by the summer.

Planning per mission for the development was first granted by Huntingdonshire District Council in 2011.

The new Caffè Nero shop will occupy a corner unit, facing St Germain Walk, and is expected to include an area for outdoor seating.

It will, however, be metres away from rival coffee shop chain Starbucks and a new Costa Coffee outlet, which will be located within the 15,000 sqft Next unit.

The plan for a Costa Coffee in the retail store was revealed after plans were submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council in January.

Costa has not announced any plans to close the chain’s existing outlet in High Street.

The news comes after The Hunts Post revealed last year that Marks & Spencer and Next had signed up to be the first tenants for the retail development.

?WHAT DO YOU THINK? Can Huntingdon support another coffee shop? E-mail your thoughts to: editor@huntspost.co.uk or write to The Hunts Post, 30 High Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TB.