A plan for a cafe chain to take over an upcoming drive-thru takeaway has apparently been put on hold near one of the busiest roundabouts in Reading.
The Norcot junction connects Oxford Road, Norcot Road and Wigmore Lane, in an area surrounded by homes and businesses at the Stadium Way Trade & Business Park.
A plan to build a drive-through takeaway and restaurant on a grassland area off Scours Lane in Tilehurst first emerged in April 2022.
The plan proved controversial as BarryElford, who runs Barry’s Burger Bar from a lay-by in Scours Lane, raised fears that a new takeaway so close to his food van would kill his business.
Councillors on Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee rejected it in September 2022.
At the time, Kentwood Labour councillors Mark Keeping and Glenn Dennis presented a survey that 21 residents responded to, stating their concerns about unsustainable traffic queues.
The council also rejected it over the loss of green space.
The applicant, Cube Real Estate, was successfully able to appeal to the government’s planning inspectorate to get the drive-thru takeaway approved.
The appointed inspector ruled that the project would not fragment the nature of the site as a green link, and would provide biodiversity enhancements with the planting of 119 trees.
It was initially understood that Greggs would be taking over the site, referred to as a ‘pod’ in planning documents.
But this April, plans emerged clearly showing Starbucks being the occupant, with the cafe chain’s trademark green and white siren logo being fixed onto the building and a totem sign.
However, these plans were withdrawn on Monday, August 18.
There is a possibility that the plan could re-emerge either for Starbucks or another cafe restaurant chain to take over the facility.
A manager responsible for the project at architectural firm Urban Edge was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.
An article on its website states the company has a pedigree in assisting with out-of-town projects and drive-through takeaways.
The post states: “Our experience in drive-throughs dates back to the very beginning of the business when we undertook a large portfolio review of 60 Little Chef sites with a view to converting several to Burger King drive-throughs just before the 2008 recession.
“We started getting our first enquiries for coffee pods in 2011 and since then have built around 11 drive-throughs and nine drive-tos for a number of well-known brands.”
A ‘drive-to’ describes a destination restaurant at a convenient roadside location which may not provide a drive-through ordering service.
You can view the withdrawn applications for the Starbucks by typing references PL/25/0641 and PL/25/0648 into the council’s planning portal.
