Costa drive thru given go-ahead for Walsall retail park
A new Costa Coffee drive-thru will be built on a retail park after plans to convert an empty store were given the green light.
The coffee shop giant will take over the former Carphone Warehouse unit at Walsall Retail Park in Reedswood Way after securing permission from planning officers.
In 2019, a proposal for a a Costa drive- thru ‘pod’ to be built on the car park had been agreed but a rethink has seen bosses decide to take over a store which became vacant since then.
In the original application, Costa said a total of 11 new full-time jobs will be created as a result of the development.
Agents Barton Willmore said: “The owners of Reedswood Retail Park are currently looking to invest in the site.
“The filling of vacant space and the diversification of uses creates an opportunity to improve the offer and experience at the retail park.
“Whilst permission was secured in May 2019 for the erection of an additional unit to accommodate Costa Coffee on the retail park, since this time the Carphone Warehouse unit at the site has become vacant and as such, the significant impacts as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic have led the applicant to reconsider their investment strategy.
“The applicant recognises the importance of securing a tenant for the existing vacant unit formerly occupied by the Carphone Warehouse and seeks to bring this unit back into productive use ahead of any new development.
“It is therefore not the intention to implement the scheme approved under and instead repurpose the vacant former Carphone Warehouse unit to bring the Costa Coffee drive thru to the Retail Park.
“The existing retail unit currently comprises of 187 square metres and the proposed development will result in a net increase of 10 square metres on the existing premises, in order to accommodate the operational requirements and facilities of the drive-thru operation.
“The occupation of the unit as a drive-thru coffee shop/café pod will require alterations to the car park layout to the east of the site to accommodate the unit and to ensure there is no driver conflict or circulation issues.
“The access to and from the site at Six Towers Road and Reedswood Way will be unchanged.”
