With a keen eye on its brand vision, Specsavers is planning to set up store in Tetbury – immediately next door to the King's Royal Highgrove gift shop.

The address, at 12 Long Street, was previously the town's Lloyds Bank, but the bank closed five years ago amid public dismay and has remained empty since.

Cirencester-based SPG Property recently agreed a long-term lease on the 2,125 square feet (197sq m) premises which is Listed Grade II and was offered at £3,083pcm, marketing the address as a "restaurant or retail opportunity".

The agent said: "The popular market town of Tetbury is the second largest town in the Cotswolds and is the home of HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall [sic]. The town is a popular tourist attraction and draws visitors from throughout the UK and overseas."

Currently, residents of the King's neighbouring town face an eight-mile journey to the nearest branch in Stroud, though the town has two existing optician businesses: Haine and Smith and independent opticians Ellis & Killpartrick.

Specsavers has asked Cotswold District Council for permission to make internal refurbishment, add illuminated signage to the front and replace air conditioning units at the back of the property.

Agent Fisch Designs told planners: "There will be no removal or damage to the existing structural walls, listed fabric or windows. There will be no demolition works undertaken that alter the layout of the existing structure. Structural walls and columns will be lined out (stud-partitioning) to protect them and hide services, and floors will be over-boarded with ply prior to new flooring being fitted.

"The existing modern plasterboard ceilings to the ground floor will be retained but new ceiling grids/tiles will be installed to most of the rooms, as they will comply with the hygienic standards required for the medical test rooms (the plasterboard ceilings will be retained intact above the new ceiling grids)."

The work proposed will also include a new air conditioning and ventilation system.

"There will be sensitive medical equipment and test room in use, therefore it is essential that clean air be supplied to the interior. It is also essential that the heating be flexible to maintain a steady temperature to the interior. Therefore, the proposed AC works are important to provide staff and patients with a workable environment."