A former pub could be turned into a drive-through coffee shop.

Thistlewood Properties Limited has submitted an application to Cheshire East Council, seeking to convert and extend The Cock on Chelford Road.

If given the green light, the property's ground floor would operate as a coffee shop, suspected to be a Starbucks.

A planning statement, prepared by Edgeplan on behalf of the applicant, reads: "The proposal would bring the vacant public house back into active commercial use, providing a coffee shop with internal customer seating, takeaway facilities and a drive-through collection window.

"The proposed unit will help meet local residents' day-to-day needs as well as serving customers travelling between Macclesfield and Monks Heath to the west.

"Overall, the proposal represents sustainable development, would secure investment in an under-used building, preserve green belt openness and provide a useful local facility. Planning permission should therefore be granted without delay."

The application explains that The Cock has been closed since August 2024.

It adds that the owners, Robinsons Brewery, made several attempts to improve the financial viability of the pub, including providing financial support to the landlords, attempting to run it as a wet led venue and introducing darts and a pool table to boost midweek trade.

With this proving fruitless, the property was marketed for three months, with no interest or offers received from any party seeking to retain the building's existing use.

"It is apparent that the popularity of the pub and its value to the community has reduced over recent years," the planning statement adds.

"During the last 10 years of the pub's trading history there have been a succession of pub partners all of whom were experienced licensees with local industry knowledge.

"All struggled to maintain sufficient turnover to sustain a profitable business and during this time the pub was closed on occasions."

It continues: "In the absence of a pub operator the next best alternative is a continued community use, in this case a coffee-shop, which will continue to make a positive contribution to the social and cultural life of the community.

"Alternative provision remains in the local area at the Pack Horse to the east and the Blacksmiths Arms to the west."

While it is not confirmed which company would operate the proposed drive-through coffee shop, it is noted that Starbucks is listed as one of Edgeplan's 'partners'.

The firm has also teamed up with Thistlewood Properties previously to deliver the Starbucks in Alsager, which opened last year.

Concerns have been raised about the impact such a business could have on traffic along the A537.

One objector wrote: "I am not objecting simply because the former Cock Inn may become a coffee shop. The issue is whether a high turnover drive-through operation is appropriate at this particular constrained location on the A537.

"Historic evidence demonstrates that this was already a heavily trafficked corridor, but those traffic figures are now historic.

"Weaver Green is now substantially occupied, yet the applicant's transport statement was prepared while its junction was still under construction."

They add: "The key questions remain unanswered: Where are the representative 2026 traffic counts and measured speeds? What happens when several customers arrive together? What happens when the drive-through or all 21 parking spaces are full? Can every turning vehicle completely clear the A537 immediately? What prevents displaced parking or waiting in Artingstall Drive? And where is the current evidence demonstrating that all of these movements can operate safely together?

"The A537 must not become an overflow queue for the drive-through, and Artingstall Drive must not become its overflow car park.

"I therefore respectfully request that application 26/2867/FUL be refused. At the very least, it should not be determined until Cheshire East highways has required and independently assessed an updated, site-specific cumulative transport assessment based upon representative current conditions.

"If the council is nevertheless minded to approve the development, I request robust and enforceable conditions governing operating hours, deliveries, waste collections, external activity, queueing and parking, together with post-opening monitoring and a requirement for immediate mitigation if development-related vehicles queue onto the A537 or cause parking, obstruction or loss of visibility within Artingstall Drive."