Plans for County Durham industrial estate Starbucks lodged
The proposal details the redevelopment of a 1.13-hectare brownfield plot in Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate.
Previously occupied by Bede House office buildings, the site is situated near St Cuthbertโs Way and Durham Way North and includes existing access points.
The plan, submitted by Bronze Ltd, includes a drive-through coffee shop with a gross internal area of approximately 171 square metres, along with customer parking for 14 vehicles, two disability bays, and 10 electric vehicle charging points.
The proposal was submitted on December 19, 2024, and validated on Monday by Durham County Council.
The coffee shop structure is described as featuring timber cladding and ribbed grey panels.
Development schemes also incorporate an open storage facility for Yard Self Storage, with a total hardstanding area of 8,200 square metres, and secured with 2.5 metre fencing and an automatic sliding gate.
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Feedback from Durham County Councilโs pre-application advice report led to the retention of existing access points and a reduction from two to one drive-through food and drink unit.
Consultation efforts were carried out in October 2024, with leaflets distributed to 250 businesses within a 500-metre radius, resulting in a two per cent response rate.
While some responses expressed excitement over the Starbucks proposal, others raised concerns about an oversupply of coffee shops in the area. One respondent suggested that fast-food options such as Subway or Burger King would be more beneficial.
In response, the applicant highlighted the need for additional food and beverage options to serve the 10,000 employees within the Business Park, suggesting that existing outlets are insufficient to meet demand.
The development is expected to create 20 permanent jobs, predominantly in the coffee shop.
Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate, a major employment hub, houses a variety of businesses, from manufacturing to services.
Its strategic location near the A1(M) makes it an attractive area for commercial development.