Plans for new Starbucks lodged

How the new Starbucks drive-thru in Oldham could look

A new Starbucks drive-thru could be opening on a car park on the edge of Oldham town centre.

The Brookhouse Group has lodged an application with the council to build a branch of the global coffee chain at Alexandra Centre Retail Park.

The land earmarked for development on Park Road is currently used as a car park.

The new Starbucks would be located south of the Pure Gym and Matalan store which are currently on the site, along with Home Bargains, Shoe Zone, JYSK and Iceland.

According the planning documents, the drive-thru building would be single storey and be ‘significantly smaller’ that the neighbouring units, with landscaping provided around it.

The development would see a loss of 41 spaces from the corner of the current car park, reducing it to 42 spaces including two disabled bays and cycling stands.

Documents submitted with the application state: “The owner of this site has seen an opportunity to add to the Alexandra Retail Park.

"The existing car park is large enough that a corner can be utilized for a small pod unit.”

The transport assessment states that it is predicted that the new Starbucks would generate 65 two way car trips during the weekday morning peak, and up to 69 in the Saturday peak.

“The pod unit is expected to generate a limited number of ‘new’ trips and would principally act as a complementary facility to the existing retail park,” Hydrock, the transport assessment company states.

Starbucks had previously applied to open a new branch at the Elk Mill Central Retail Park on Broadway in Royton.

There have been no objections or letters of support lodged over the Alexandra Centre application which was lodged this month.

A decision on whether to approve the plans is expected by the end of March.

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