Plans for a Starbucks drive-thru at Marus Bridge Retail Park in Wigan are set to be decided by the council's planning committee on Tuesday, July 7. If approved, the coffee shop would become the borough's third Starbucks outlet, joining existing locations at Scott Lane Services and Market Place in the town centre.
Location and Access
The proposed site is within Marus Bridge Retail Park in the Winstanley area, currently home to Sainsbury's, a McDonald's drive-thru, B&M, and a petrol station. Vehicle access would be from Worthington Way, which connects to the A49 Warrington Road to the east of the site. Residential properties lie beyond the retail park and Warrington Road, more than 80 metres from the proposed drive-thru unit, according to a planning officer's report.
Parking Impact
The development would be built over 54 existing parking spaces, with six new spaces created, resulting in a net loss of 48 spaces. Ward councillor Clive Morgan has raised concerns about additional traffic and the loss of parking spaces, and has requested a site visit by the planning committee.
Planning Officer's Recommendation
A planning officer's report has recommended approval, stating: “While located outside a defined centre, the site is within an established retail park in a sustainable and accessible location, with good links to the surrounding highway network, public transport and adjacent residential areas. The development therefore aligns with the requirement to prioritise accessible and well‑connected sites where out‑of‑centre proposals are considered.”
Applicant's Statement
A planning statement on behalf of the applicant said: “The operator of the proposed drive-thru unit would be Starbucks and the unit has been designed to reflect the design and appearance of other units within the retail park and would be appropriate for its setting.”
Next Steps
Wigan's planning committee is due to deliberate on the plans on Tuesday, July 7. If approved, the drive-thru would be the third Starbucks in the borough, serving customers at the busy retail park.
