Work has started on a new drive-thru beside Asda, next to the Northway, in Portadown.
Diggers have moved on site to the patch of wasteland, which also sits next to Portadown Rugby Club, to clear the site ahead of construction.
The identity of the new drive-thru has not been made known officially at this stage.
However, it is understood to be intended for use by Starbucks, the world-famous coffee shop chain.
There have been previous applications for the site for a number of drive-thrus and various other uses over the years.
The most recent was submitted, in the form of a Reserved Matters application, last summer. It was subsequently granted planning approval by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council last October.
The actual intended site is “77m due NW of existing Asda retail unit extending NW towards line of A3 Northway road. SW boundary bounded by Joseph Street north of the roundabout towards Northway Road. Portadown”.
The submission approved – by Portadown-based JH Turkington and Sons – Ltd details a drive-thru cafe unit, complete with 37 parking spaces and cycle stands, as well as associated siteworks and landscaping.
Access will be via Joseph Street.
There were no letters of objection or support received.
The new drive-thru – which also includes internal seated area and toilet provision – will boast a floorspace of close to 2,500 sq ft. There will also be seating outside too.
There has been no indication of new jobs to be created, given that a reserved matters application did not require a transport assessment form.
However, the drive-thru will support jobs, both during construction and when open for business.
According to the planners’ report, the site is currently “unoccupied lands”, basically “a smaller portion of a larger field, which is overgrown in grass and the enclosed by a timber fence”.
With work now started, it is hoped that the new drive-thru will be completed in the coming months.
