Plans for new Costa Coffee drive-thru in Washington approved by Sunderland City Council

Last year, plans were lodged with Sunderland City Council for a parcel of land at the Peel Retail Park, near McDonald’s.

Applicant Peveril Securities Ltd aimed to redevelop the land off Spire Road by creating a new building with a drive-thru facility and associated physical works.

According to planning documents, Costa Coffee has been identified as the end user, with the development expected to create around nine full-time jobs.

Sunderland City Council’s planning department approved the planning application on Monday, March 22.

No objections were lodged from the council’s highways and ecology departments during consultation on the plans.

Although the development will lead to a loss of car parking spaces, council officers said the development was acceptable.

A council report reads:”The submitted transport statement concludes that there is significant spare capacity within the existing retail park car park and that the proposed reduction of 27 spaces will not have a detrimental impact on the operation of the retail park.

“Whilst it is noted that the car parking surveys were undertaken during the Covid pandemic it is accepted that the loss of parking spaces at the retail park, which is less than 4% of the total number of spaces, will not be detrimental to the operation of the retail park.”

A planning statement, submitted on behalf of the applicant last year, stressed that the development would “complement the existing retail function of the wider site.”

It said: “It is now well-established that operations of the type proposed do not act as destinations in their own right, but rather that they meet the needs of existing visitors to the site by providing a complementary facility.

“It follows that the proposed development will not compete directly with cafes and other similar facilities within Washington town centre and other defined centres.”

The statement added that the development would “facilitate private sector investment within Washington” and “demonstrates both investor and operator confidence in the commercial function and strength of the retail park, the town and district.”

For more information on the application, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal and search reference: 20/02061/FUL

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