Meadowbank Shopping Centre: New proposals for a drive-thru Costa Coffee in Edinburgh

A new drive-thru Costa Coffee shop could be built at Meadowbank Shopping Centre, if recently-submitted proposals are approved by Edinburgh Council.

A planning application made by Savills - on behalf of CBRE Global Investors - in August, outlines the construction of a cafe on an area currently used for parking space in front of the Sainsbury’s store at the shopping centre.

The 1,800 sq ft building would come with a one-way drive-thru system, an outdoor seating area, and 16 parking spaces - including two for disabled access.

A new drive-thru Costa Coffee shop could be built at Meadowbank Shopping Centre, if recently-submitted proposals are approved by Edinburgh Council.

Roughly half of the car parking spaces that sit in front of the Sainsbury’s store would be replaced by the site.

The proposals suggest the cafe’s interior could cater for 59 covers at any one time, with a further 24 outside.

Public comments on the plans can be submitted to the Council until Monday, September 28.

The deadline for the Council to make a determination on the proposals is Friday, October 23.

The site would cover roughly half of the car parking spaces that sit in front of the Sainsbury’s store.

Costa, a Coca-Cola-owned coffee chain, is the largest in the UK, and already has 20 outlets in the Capital, including those inside of various supermarkets.

The popular brand made headlines in July when it reopened 29 of its stores around the UK for takeaway orders, leading to lengthy tailbacks on some roads as drivers queued for coffees.

Locals near the drive-thru Costa at Cameron Toll reported seeing around 20 cars queuing at a time to be served with the queues lasting ‘up to 40 minutes’.

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