Erewash coffee shop plan for former Police Station

The planned Starbucks on the former police station site in Midland Street, Long Eaton. Image from OLA

Plans to turn a derelict Derbyshire police station into a Starbucks drive-through coffee shop are set for approval.

Erewash Borough Council planners have recommended that a scheme to demolish the former police station in Midland Street, Long Eaton, which borders the authority’s own headquarters, should be approved by councillors.

The site, which also borders the town’s health centre, has been vacant for years after the police force announced a slew of closures in 2015.

If approved, the new drive-through coffee shop, to be operated by Starbucks, would create 20 full-time jobs, applicants Stronghold Commercial Properties say.

The site would gain 15 extra parking spaces, along with eight electric vehicle charging stations.

A council report says there were a number of (unspecified) responses to the plans, including concerns over noise and construction disruption, impact on local businesses, the existence of a Starbucks in Toton, claims that it would draw people out of the town centre, that McDonald’s already had a drive-through in the town, fears over litter and pollution, and a call for the police station to reopen.

The council report says there were no other viable sites capable of fitting a drive-through coffee shop either within or on the edge of the town centre, with this use recommended to be only based in town centre plots.

In their recommendations for approval, planners said: “The council has powers to deal with littering from premises if that occurs, though litter problems with other drive-thru sites have not been drawn to the local planning authorities attention. 

“Further concerns were raised regarding the siting of an existing Starbucks in Toton and the fact that McDonalds drive thru also serves coffee. However, commercial competition is not a material consideration for planning decisions.”

Planners added: “Concerns have been raised regarding Starbucks alleged tax status will not be addressed in this application, this is a planning application not a HMRC investigation.

“Whilst it is appreciated that there are significant community concerns regarding the development of the site into a drive-thru for a large international company, the impact on the town centre has been found to be appropriate and the investment is therefore welcomed.”