Proposals for a new Costa Cofee drive-thru at Granton have spark anger with some local residents, after Edinburgh Council’s decision to reject the project was overturned on Tuesday.
Sustainability, pollution and traffic issues drove concerns about the development, with Forth ward’s Lib Dem councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie among those to express anger over the decision.
READ MORE - Queen's harsh two-word response to Meghan and Harry's plea to photograph Lilibet meeting
“Ferry Road is already one of Edinburgh’s busiest roads, and I think it’s entirely wrong to add to local congestion and harmful emissions simply for people to get a cup of coffee,” she said.
The council originally rejected the proposed Costa Coffee drive-thru on Pilton Drive in December because the development was contrary to council policies in a number of areas. Mostly notably the drive-thru did not support or encourage the use of sustainable transport or reduce short car journeys.
However, the decision was appealed and overturned by an independent planning reporter with the Scottish Government’s DPEA this week.
“It is very disappointing to see this decision,” said Stuart Dobbin, an SNP Councillor for Forth.
“While there is a dearth of coffee shop facilities in Pilton and the surrounding area, to approve a drive-through in this location will undoubtedly increase traffic congestion in what is already a very busy junction and I would expect will encourage increased car usage at a time when we should be looking to reduce unnecessary car travel and increase active travel and use of public transport.
“While the appeal was decided by the independent planning reporter, the committee members I am sure will review the decision to understand why it was approved contra to the Council Committee decision. I’m also writing to the head of service to make sure we get sight of these reasons but it’s still extremely disappointing.”
Euan McLaughlin, the DPEA Reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers, reviewed and overturned the appeal based on multiple conditions: the development must ensure adequate cycle parking is provided; complete an approved pedestrian link prior to opening; protect the trees on site with fencing during construction; and it must remain a class 3 property.
“The council’s key concern with this proposal appears to relate to the drive-thru element and not the principle of the coffee shop use itself,” McLaughlin stated in the decision notice.
“If the drive-thru was not in place, customers could simply park in the car park and access the restaurant to place their order. The proposal allows for access from other sustainable modes of transport, so I do not consider that customers are required to use private vehicles when using the coffee shop. I do not consider that the proposal is contrary to the City Mobility Plan.”
“I recognise that there is widespread support through both national and local policy for the reduction in private car use and I acknowledge concerns that the provision of the drive-thru would increase private car use. However, I have considered the proposal in line with the adopted Local Development Plan which does not place a restriction on drive-thru’s.”
The appeal process allowed for public consultations to made. Only two people contributed opinions for public consideration, but both were opposed to the development.
“The small size of this development should not be used as an argument for upholding the appeal as then hundreds of consents could be awarded on the basis that each individually has minimal harmful effects, when of course collectively the negative impact is large,” one consultation reads.
“While the applicant argues that the development will lead to few additional car trips, this ignores the fact that it will help 'cement in' existing car use patterns and therefore undermine national and local targets to reduce the number of car kilometres.”
A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a planning application has been approved for a Costa Coffee Drive-Thru store at 102 Pilton Drive, Edinburgh but can’t share any further details at this current time.”
