Proposals for drive-thru Starbucks 'could create traffic chaos' in Inverurie

Plans to open a Starbucks drive-thru cafe in Inverurie could be approved next week despite fears it might create traffic chaos in the town.

Perquod Inverurie Ltd is leading the project to bring the Seattle-based coffee giants to the Aberdeenshire town.

If it is given the go-ahead, the cafe would be built on land next to the Aldi supermarket off Loco Works Road.

But while residents were largely supportive of the proposal, Aberdeenshire Council’s roads team lodged an objection against it.

They believed the site would encourage car use – which goes against local and national planning policy.

Roads bosses also thought the site could be used for a development that doesn’t include a drive-thru instead.

However, the application will go before councillors next week with a recommendation to approve it.

Plans for the global coffee chain’s potential new location were first revealed in September last year.

The new cafe has been earmarked for development on land previously set aside for a similar drive-thru for coffee rivals Costa.

That proposal was lodged in 2022 but was withdrawn later that year.

If approved, customers will access Starbucks via the existing Aldi car park.

Six parking spaces will be remodelled as part of the development, of which four will have electric vehicle charging points and the other two will be accessible.

The building’s design is expected to be similar to those recently constructed in Bridge of Don and Peterhead.

The proposal initially split opinion in the town.

Five objections were submitted to Aberdeenshire Council against the plan, while four letters in support of the cafe were received.

Those against the drive-thru believed it would bring an increase in traffic, emissions, pollution and litter.

They also thought Starbucks would take business from other cafes already in the town centre.

But those welcoming the coffee chain said it would benefit younger residents, bring more choice and could encourage people to walk or cycle there instead of taking the car.

Engineering consultants Fairhurst addressed the road team’s concerns.

They noted that while the facility was a drive-thru, many customers would drive to it and sit in, while others would use sustainable transport to get there.

The firm also argued that the “actual vehicle trip generation to the facility would not be significantly different” if there wasn’t a drive-thru.

However, they argued that there would be more demand for parking spaces as customers would have no other option but to park and enter the cafe.

Finally, they suggested that the majority of customers visiting Starbucks would already be in the town centre area and were “therefore not new trips”.

But despite this, the local authority’s roads officers decided to maintain their objection.

However, council planners have recommended the cafe be approved.

They were satisfied that the drive-thru would “sit comfortably” in the area and would even help to improve the “vitality and viability” of the town centre.

Planners also believed the site was well located to allow people to walk or cycle to it using existing path networks in Inverurie.

They added: “The site can be adequately serviced, and the development is not expected to result in a significant adverse impact on the town centre in terms of traffic or emissions.”

But councillors will get the final say when the application will go before the Garioch area committee next Tuesday.