A former M&S store is set to be turned into a pub after planning officers at Buckinghamshire Council have recommended that the scheme be approved.

Oakman Inns and Restaurants Ltd have applied for permission to convert the former M&S Simply Foods in Gerrards Cross into a public house.

The M&S store at 10 Packhorse Road closed its doors last year with the Oakman Group revealing on their website that the pub will open this Autumn.

The pub chain's says that the new location will be called The Journeyman and will serve 'a Mediterranean inspired menu using only the freshest ingredients from morning to night'.

The proposed opening times are 8am to 12am from Monday to Wednesday, 8am to 1am form Thursday to Saturday and 8am to 11pm on Sunday.

The application says the proposed outdoor seating area will close at 9pm.

Planning documents also claim the opening of the pub will create 25 'full-time equivalent jobs.

A statement reads: "Bringing the building back into use as a pub will help draw people into Gerrards Cross Town Centre and result in increased dwell time and linked spending within the area.

"Local businesses will benefit from its use and the development will help attract additional investment into the town centre."

In a report to the planning committee, case officer Richard Regan said: "In terms of the need for another public house/restaurant in the area, it is considered that the introduction of a public house in this location would not result in an overdominance of such uses at the expense of other retail units or the town centre itself.

"As such, it is considered that the introduction of an additional public house would be beneficial in terms of supporting the town centre."

However, opinion has been split over as 20 letters have been received in support whilst 13 lodged as objections.

Those supporting it say it will be good for the town as it will increase footfall in the area and therefore will be beneficial for the high street.

Neha Vang Nielsen wrote: "Gerrards Cross high street needs something great to turn it from a dying high street into a vibrant one - it has so much potential!

"Yet I find myself having to go to Amersham, Marlow and The Chalfonts because they have so much more on offer."

The objections raised concerns including odour, noise and the site’s bins attracting vermin.

Brian Molloy wrote: "I am concerned that the anti-social aspects of ventilation machinery noise, odour from cooking, and the potential of vermin being attracted to the food waste haven't been adequately addressed and resolved."

Gerrards Cross Town Council raised no objections to the application but asked that the first floor flat not be privately rented and only be occupied by the staff.

Buckinghamshire Council’s planning committee will now make a final decision on the application.