PLAN For £4.7Million Starbucks And Office Block Development In Greenock

A STARBUCKS drive-thru coffee shop and an office building are being proposed for a site beside the A8 in Greenock.

A planning application by developer LGO4 Ltd for land at Cartsdyke Avenue has been submitted to Inverclyde Council.

A statement included with the application explains: “The [two-storey] office will accommodate approximately 100 staff, and that part of the development will represent an investment in Inverclyde in excess of approximately £3million.

“The coffee shop will be occupied and operated by Starbucks and this will employ approximately 20 to 30 staff, with approximately 50 per cent to be full-time.

“The coffee shop development will represent an investment in Inverclyde in excess of approximately £1.7million by Starbucks.”

It continues: “Both proposed buildings are of bespoke design with glazing and external wall finishes appropriate to the prevailing character of the area.

“The building scale of single and double stories is also intended to not dominate the site and maintain a balance between the development and the landscaping.

“The office development aligns with adjacent uses and the development of a coffee shop in this location will introduce an attractive modern facility that will support both existing and future businesses, as well as tourists and local residents, by providing a comfortable and accessible meeting space with wifi connections.”

It’s not stated whether there is an occupier lined up for the offices.

The drive-thru would be open 6am to 10pm, seven days a week.

There would also be four electric car charging spaces.

Documents also state that many of the mature trees on site would be kept, and significant landscaping is proposed to other areas.

A previous attempt get consent for a drive-thru coffee shop at the site was rejected in 2018.

Planners said the site is intended for only certain business and industrial uses and they were also concerned about the loss of high quality landscaping.

The new application is pending assessment by officials.

Plans for a drive-thru coffee shop further along the A8 at Arthur Street were submitted more than a year ago, for which a decision form planners is still awaited.