Barrow could be set to get its first ever Starbucks after an application for a drive-thru was submitted.
The branch would be in the car park of Asda in Walney Road and would make use of ‘surplus’ capacity.
“We have got the Costa already,” said Cllr Trevor Biggins. “It gives people a choice, there’s nothing wrong with that, and a bit of competition. If one’s a bit cheaper than the other, you might find people will go to it more.”
Cllr Anne Burns said traffic could be a key issue and referenced the stretch of the A590 between Wilkie Road and the roundabout at Tesco.
“I’d want everyone to take into consideration the traffic congestion,” she said. “That section has got a lot of junctions on it and it’s very difficult to get in and out of it already. It should be looked at.”
A planning statement has been submitted by RPS Group in support of the application.
It said up to 20 new jobs – with 13 of these being full-time-equivalent positions – would be created by the new drive-thru.
The branch, which would have a seating area, would be situated on the eastern side of the car park, close to the vehicular access from Holker Street.
The planning statement says the proposed development would share parking spaces with Asda. The drive-thru would result in a net loss of 67 parking bays, reducing provision to 434 spaces.
“It is anticipated that the majority of trips would be linked with existing uses in the area – there would be few new trips generated by the development,” says the statement.
“The proposed unit would provide additional facilities for users of the store and would not of itself lead to any significant numbers of additional vehicle movements on the local highway network.”
It said the drive-thru was anticipated to use a maximum of 13 parking spaces which, when looked at alongside the results of a drone parking survey to determine maximum car park occupancy, leaves a ‘surplus’ of 159 bays.
Last month, a drive-thru Starbucks at Ulverston’s Beehive Business Park was given approval by the council.
