A proposed new drive-thru at the Peel Centre in Dumfries is on track to receive approval, positioning it next to a potential Costa Coffee outlet. The Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning applications committee is poised to greenlight the development, despite objections from some local residents.
The envisioned drive-thru would offer takeaway options and outdoor seating for customers. While the application includes only a few parking spaces, an adjacent area of land was previously approved for 32 parking spaces in a 2018 planning application. The new restaurant would share access with this existing parking area, which is part of a yet-to-be-completed coffee shop drive-thru project launched last year.
Records from 2018 indicate plans for Costa Coffee signage at the location, although the operator for the new facility remains undisclosed. The vacant land next to the Peel Centre, which has been unused for over two decades, would see new activity with this development.
Concerns raised by local residents revolve around potential increased traffic on Lockerbie Road and the capacity of the Peel Centre to accommodate additional vehicles. However, the council’s case officer, Toril Glendinning, assures that noise levels would not be adversely affected. The council’s roads team has also not raised any red flags regarding access from Lockerbie Road.
Mr. Glendinning’s report acknowledges that the 32 parking spaces may not suffice on their own, but given that the Peel Centre has over 300 parking spaces and hosts major retailers like Tesco, TK Maxx, and Sports Direct, he deems the impact manageable. One of the proposed conditions for approval is that the store operates between 7am and 11pm.
In summary, a new drive-thru development near a potential Costa Coffee outlet at the Peel Centre in Dumfries is poised to move forward pending council approval. The project faces objections from some locals concerning traffic and parking concerns, but the case officer believes the impact can be mitigated given existing infrastructure and operating restrictions.