Agency by William Gibson 
People living on a housing estate in Alsager “would have moved elsewhere” if they knew a drive-through coffee shop would be opening opposite their homes.
Concerns over “late night noise”, “additional traffic” and litter have been raised by residents living near to the proposed Starbucks drive-through, planned for next to the new Sainsbury’s supermarket being built off Linley Lane.
A café inside the store was included in the original plan, but Sainsbury’s told the town council during a meeting in February that it had since been removed due to “marked changes” in the shopping habits of customers since the covid pandemic.
A revised version of the 25,000sqft store, including an Argos collection point and six-pump, unmanned fuel station, was approved by Cheshire East Council in March and construction work is expected to be complete by June 2025.
Plans for the drive-through coffee shop, which include an indoor seating area and 17 car parking spaces, were submitted at the end of July.
Speaking at a town council Planning, Environment and Community Committee meeting last Tuesday, Coun Steve Butterfield was concerned that the new coffee shop may impact businesses in the town centre, with charges currently expected to be introduced in October, to Fairview car park, which serves Asda and the town centre.
He said: “What effect do we think this will have on coffee shops in Alsager, if any?
“Is this the thin end of the wedge for McDonalds to come in? Will it take things away from the town even more?”
But Coun Michael Unett, who chaired the meeting, explained that the impact on other businesses was not a matter that could be raised as an objection by the town council’s planning committee.
He said: “If we were to say it would affect businesses in town, effectively the planning committee at Cheshire East would say, ‘…and?’”
Turning to comments uploaded to Cheshire East’s planning portal by neighbours living near to the site, Coun Derek Longhurst said: “Residents are concerned about late night noise and the coffee shop remaining open until 11pm, which is later than the supermarket.
“I think we should question that on their behalf. Looking at the planning application, I think traffic noise is not appropriate, and many people had made the point that if they knew it was going to happen, they wouldn’t have bought the house.”
One resident of 17, Frank Mayer Road, in an objection uploaded to the planning portal, said: “The original proposal that had a coffee shop in the store would have ensured that this was not open during unsociable hours and therefore was acceptable, however this is not and may have seriously altered my opinion to purchase a property here.”
Another, living at 3, Claud Godwin Drive, agreed: “We knew about the application for Sainsbury’s, however if we had known about Starbucks, we would have moved elsewhere.
“There is going to be additional traffic, late night noise and also rubbish that will no doubt get blown around from the premises.” A resident of 29, Francis Jepson Close, said: “I believe this proposal will likely promote antisocial gatherings and activities, which could disrupt the peace and safety of our community.”
Someone living at 20, Woodcock Way, said: “This is becoming dangerous for residents due to traffic already.
“A further increase will become unbearable and vastly affect the residents. House pricing will also be affected by this development as a whole, as it is becoming an unanticipated main road, which is not acceptable.”
The committee agreed to recommend to Cheshire East that Starbucks is restricted to the same opening hours as the Sainsbury’s store, 8am-10pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday.
It also agreed with a report from Environmental Health at Cheshire East, that the construction of the drive-thru and any deliveries, should be restricted to 8am-6pm on weekdays, 9am-2pm on Saturdays with no work on Sundays.
The Cheshire East Council planning reference is 24/2767C. The deadline for submitting comments is Thursday, with a decision target date of Tuesday, 24th September.
(Photograph: Starbucks).
