Plans have been approved for a driv- thru coffee shop in Ayr – and it could be a Starbucks. 

Huge global firm Euro Garages (EG Ltd) got permission to build an unnamed coffee shop on Whitletts Road, near Tesco.

Euro Garages has a partnership with giant US chain Starbucks. But the coffee chain has not confirmed if it will come to the town yet.  Council officers granted planning permission for the new premises under delegated powers.

Councillor Ian Cavana said: “It would be nice to see a business on the site. It has been lying dormant for quite a while. It is a big site and they will be on to a winner.”

Commenting on the impact of lockdown on premises, Councillor Cavana asked: “But when will it open?”

Supporting the bid, businessman Gavin Hollywood said online: “We fully support this application and upgrade to this site, the investment into the local area along with job creation are positive measures and should be supported by South Ayrshire Council. 

He added: “We welcome a global brand such as Starbucks to Ayr and welcome a positive planning consent being granted.”

The coffee shop would have 16 parking spaces and be located on brownfield land on a  former petrol station site.

Agent Colliers submitted planning  documents for the bid on behalf of  EG Ltd  to South Ayrshire Council.  Blackburn-based Euro Garages sites host Starbucks chains across the UK.

Recent Scottish plans for Starbucks were lodged by the firm in East Lothian.  A council statement on the plan said: “The siting and design of the development hereby approved is considered to accord with the provisions of the development plan and there is no significant adverse impact on the amenity of neighbouring land and buildings.”

Starbucks could not be reached for comment. 

But a Starbucks spokeswoman said in January: “We are always looking for new locations and opportunities to bring the Starbucks Experience to customers in the UK, but at this time we have no news to share about plans in Ayr.”

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