A planning application has been made for a Costa coffee shop with drive-through in Minster – alongside the current McDonald’s site.
The application proposes a single storey outlet with 31 car-parking spaces, including two disabled spaces and a drive-through lane on current scrub land off Laundry Road.
The site is accessed from the A299 – Hengist Way trunk road via Tothill Street – and Laundry Road
Plans were initially shown at a public exhibition at Minster Library in 2017. The exhibition was staffed by representatives from applicant Decimus Property (Minster) Ltd, Costa Coffee, GDM Architects and DHA Planning.
The proposal presented at the exhibition was for the Costa Coffee outlet and drive through and a farm shop. Plans for the farm outlet have now been dropped.
The application says: “The proposed development would generate tangible benefits including the creation of jobs, temporary economic benefits through construction and the effective use of land considered to be of poor quality and available for development.”
It adds: “(Costa) typically require £1 million plus of investment and pay five figure sums annually in business rates.”
The completed Costa is expected to employ around 18 full and part-time staff (or 11 full time). The application says litter will be dealt with through on-site bins and regular checks by staff. Costa is signed up with Keep Britain Tidy.
Craig Solly, of the Birchington Action Group Against Thanet council’s Local Plan, said: “ Tothill Street is currently a road out of date for the village of Minster. Thanet council has not looked at transport planning for this area. Considering that 200 houses are also being built in the area this will addyet more congestion.”
Members of Minster Parish Council had previously raised concerns about congestion at the junction of Laundry Road and Tothill Street, saying parking restrictions would be needed.
Proposed opening hours will be 5am to 11pm.
The application, submitted on February 21, is yet to be decided on. Find it on Thanet council’s planning page under reference F/TH/19/0215.
