Costa Coffee shop and drive-thru approved for South Shore retail park

Blackpool Council bosses this week decided to grant planning permission for the Costa Coffee shop to be built on the car park next to Halfords at Squire's Gate retail park, off Amy Johnson Way.

The development, by LS Retail Warehousing Limited, will comprise of a 167sqm building, a revised car park layout and drive-thru area, new pedestrian footpaths and crossings, kerb alterations, and stainless steel bollards.

A cover letter submitted to the Council on behalf of the company read: "The proposed development is primarily intended to complement the primary retail function of the existing retail park. Given the proposed facility will serve an existing customer base, it is intrinsically linked to the existing function of the retail park.

"The complementary nature of the 'drive-thru' operation is identical to that of the Costa Coffee outlets in St Anne’s and Blackpool town centres. That store serves existing users of the centre, rather than acting as a key attractor to the town centre."

The new Costa Coffee is the latest in a line of large developments to be approved at Squire's Gate.

A 350sqm Nandos restaurant is set to be created on the Morrisons site, along with a Starbucks and another small shop, between the existing Petrol station and car wash and the main road.