Starbucks plans to open new drive-thru near Stockport town centre

Starbucks has plans to open a new drive-thru near Stockport town centre. The coffee giant has submitted proposals for a new outlet which would replace Pizza Hut, at Garfield Court, off Great Portwood Street.

The application seeks permission to install a new drive-thru lane at the eatery - situated opposite the Peel Centre - which currently offers dine-in and takeaway options. Documents lodged with the council confirm the intended ‘removal of the Pizza Hut restaurant’, as opposed to a drive-thru running alongside it.

Some demolition will be needed to allow for the construction of the new lane, although part of the building will be retained to provide a canopy area over the drive-thru facility. The proposal would create 20 full time-equivalent jobs.

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A transport report submitted with the application says the proposal would bring a number of benefits to the area, without significantly increasing traffic.

It reads: “The proposed redevelopment of the existing restaurant to provide a drive-thru coffee shop facility would provide updated and more convenient facilities for the users of the surrounding retail areas and in itself would not lead to any significant numbers of additional vehicle movements on the local highway network.

In conclusion, it adds: “There are no outstanding reasons why the proposed redevelopment should not be granted planning permission on transport grounds.”

As part of the redevelopment, 12 car parking bays will be removed within Garfield Court leaving 52 spaces. According to the transport report, this would be ‘sufficient’ to meet the demands of the drive-thru and the adjacent commercial units.

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