Plans served up for a new standalone unit for Costa Coffee at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham have been approved.
A planning application was submitted over the Summer for a 1,800 sq ft drive-thru unit to be occupied by Costa between Wilko's and Morrison's supermarket in the existing car park at Parkgate.
Part of Whitbread plc, Costa was founded in London in 1971 by Italian brothers, Sergio and Bruno. With over 2,000 coffee shops in the UK and more than 1,240 in 31 overseas markets, Costa is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK and is aiming to create 5,000 new UK jobs by 2020.
Drive thru stores are operated by the company and by franchisees. Costa's turnover grew by 15.9% to £1.1 billion for the year to March 3 2016. Underlying operating profit was up 15.8% to £153.5m.
"The Nation's Favourite Coffee Shop" already operates in Rotherham at a 2,000 sq ft unit at Parkgate Shopping, the Waterfront development in Manvers and at a recently opened unit in Rotherham town centre.
The proposed development, which would take up 45 parking spaces, would be single storey and include feature glazing, and red and grey render and include a drive thru, not currently available at the existing Costa on the park.
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Approved without going to the Planning Board, planners at Rotherham Council agreed with the applicants that, as the development is relatively minor, it would not have an impact on surrounding retail centres due to its small scale. It is not considered as a destination in its own right and will more likely function as part of a linked trip to the surrounding shopping area.
The highways experts at the Council do warn that the loss of 45 parking spaces could lead to a shortfall of ten spaces at peak time. The proposed tram-train stop at Parkgate could also put further pressure on parking spaces.
The previous owners of the park, together with potential operators and visitors have all shown an interest in an improved food and drink offer at Parkgate. A 4,000 sq ft Frankie & Benny's restaurant opened in 2012 to complement to the existing instore cafés and fast food outlets. A similar size Nando's opened at the end of 2015, a new development replacing the former Pizza Hut restaurant.
In 2016, an in-house coffee shop and eatery, UK Coffee Shop, opened within the 45,000 sq ft UK Outdoor Clearance site.
McDonald's opened a 24-hour restaurant and drive thru on the edge of Parkgate Shopping in 2014 and plans for a 2,000 sq ft Starbucks drive thru coffee shop at nearby Foundry Retail Park were approved in 2015.
In a transaction worth around £175m, BMO Real Estate Partners (BMO) acquired Parkgate Shopping in September 2015 from the Hercules Unit Trust (HUT), which is advised by British Land and managed by Schroders.
Plans have also been approved for alterations in a bid to secure new tenants for the only two remaining vacant units on the site - the former BHS and Brantano stores.
The latest applications shows that Interest Trustees Ltd and Spread Trustee Company Ltd are now trustees of the Rotherham Unit Trust.
1 comments:
Shame the management of this successful retail venue dont manage Rotherham Town Centre !
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