New Costa Coffee drive-thru is to brew up nine full-time jobs
Plans for a new Costa Coffee drive-thru in Washington have been given the green light.
Lastyear,planswerelodged with Sunderland City Council for a parcel of land at the Peel Retail Park, near McDonald’s.
Applicant Peveril SecuritiesLtdaimedtoredevelopthe land off Spire Road by creating a new building with a drive-thrufacilityandassociatedphysical works.
According to planning documents,CostaCoffeehasbeen identifiedastheenduser,with the development expected to create around nine full-time jobs.
Sunderland City Council’s
planning department approved the planning application on Monday.
No objections were lodged from the council’s highways and ecology departments during consultation on the plans.
Although the development will lead to a loss of car parking spaces,councilofficerssaidthe development was acceptable.
Acouncilreportreads:”The submitted transport statement concludes that there is significant spare capacity within the existing retail park carparkandthattheproposed reduction of 27 spaces will not have a detrimental impact on theoperationoftheretailpark.
“Whilst it is noted that the car parking surveys were undertakenduringtheCovidpandemic it is accepted that the lossofparkingspacesattheretail park, which is less than 4%
of the total number of spaces, will not be detrimental to the operation of the retail park.”
A planning statement, submitted on behalf of the applicantlastyear,stressedthatthe development would “complement the existing retail function of the wider site.”
It said: “It is now well-established that operations of thetypeproposeddonotactas destinationsintheirownright, but rather that they meet the needsofexistingvisitorstothe sitebyprovidingacomplementary facility.
“It follows that the proposed development will not compete directly with cafes and other similar facilities within Washington town centre and other defined centres.”
The statement added that the development would “facilitate private sector investment within Washington” and “demonstrates both investor and operator confidence in the commercial function and strength of the retail park, the town and district.”
For details, visit the council’splanningportalandsearch reference: 20/02061/FUL