BIG brands Costa Coffee and Subway have announced they could be heading to Harwich.

Leading coffee shop Costa has been revealed as a possible new tenant for a former clothes shop at Harwich Gateway Retail Park.

The move would bring 15 new jobs and “vibrancy” to a building that has stood empty for almost three years.

The owners of Harwich Gateway Retail Park, off Freshfields Road, in Dovercourt, have applied to Tendring Council for permission to split the former Bonmarche unit at the complex to create two smaller shops.

A spokesman for Costa Coffee confirmed the company was looking at “opportunities” in the Harwich area, but said there were no firm plans in place.

Subway also confirmed rumours the chain was looking to open a branch in the town.

A spokesman said the company was “actively looking at possible locations”.