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.
A plan for a cafe chain to take over a drive-thru takeaway near one of Reading's busiest roundabouts has been put on hold.
The Norcot junction connects Oxford Road, Norcot Road, and Wigmore Lane, surrounded by homes and businesses at the Stadium Way Trade & Business Park.
Initial plans for the drive-thru on grassland off Scours Lane in Tilehurst emerged in April 2022, but faced backlash from Barry Elford, who runs Barry’s Burger Bar nearby, fearing it would hurt his business.
Reading Borough Council rejected the proposal in September 2022 due to concerns over traffic queues and loss of green space.
However, Cube Real Estate appealed to the government’s planning inspectorate, which approved the project, stating it wouldn’t disrupt the site’s green link and would enhance biodiversity with 119 new trees.
Initially, it was thought that Greggs would occupy the site, but plans later showed Starbucks with its green and white logo intended for the building.
Yet, on August 18, those plans were withdrawn. There’s potential for Starbucks or another cafe chain to revisit the project.
A manager from Urban Edge, the firm handling the project, was unavailable for comment, but their website notes their extensive experience with drive-throughs and takeaway projects.
To view the withdrawn Starbucks applications, search references PL/25/0641 and PL/25/0648 on the council’s planning portal.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
