Another drive-thru restaurant is being planned for the Marlborough Retail Park in Craigavon.
The development – which would stretch to close to 2,500 sq metres – is the fourth at the Co Armagh shops complex.
An application has been submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council by Portadown-based Turkingtons.
It relates to a site adjacent to the Airtastic Entertainment Centre.
On paper, it is described specifically as being sited on “lands immediately adjacent and south west of Unit 4 and 5 Marlborough Retail Park, Highfield Grove, opposite and approximately 83m south east of Tesco Extra”.
No details of the proposed future operator of the new drive-thru has been confirmed or revealed at this stage.
Transport assessments and supporting statements have been redacted, giving no indication as to who would be coming to Craigavon if plans are approved.
The new drive-thru follows the opening at Marlborough Retail Park of Starbucks, Burger King and Greggs, with McDonalds already located a stone’s throw away at Rushmere.
The application is for a “drive-thru restaurant with outdoor seating area”, as well as associated parking and siteworks.
According to a planning statement, the unit will be of a similar height to the three previously approved restaurants within Marlborough Retail Park.
Inside it will boast seating for 34 customers, as well as kitchen, ‘back of house’, staff and customer/disabled toilets and a covered bin store.
There will be an outdoor seating area, a main entrance, side entrance and staff entrance, as well as a pay and collect hatch.
Parking is also covered under the plans, with 30 spaces proposed.
And, in terms of how it will be operated, the statement adds: “The drive-thru restaurant is to be accessed from Highfield Grove.
“The drive-thru system is designed to enter from the south, giving 15 queuing spaces from the entrance through to the pay and collect hatch, then exiting to the north, with one waiting bay.”
The supporting statement says the “proposals provide adequate provision for car parking and the proposals will not prejudice road safety or significantly inconvenience the flow of traffic in this town centre location”.
And it concludes: “The application is sought further to the successful redevelopment of Marlborough Retail Park, since the closure of B&Q in April 2016.
“The proposal will complement the existing retail, leisure and drive-thru restaurants to strengthen the vitality of Craigavon Town Centre.”
The application will now be advertised shortly.
