Starbucks will open premises at Linkway West site in St Helens

The Star reported after proposals, submitted in 2022, had received permission to add drive-thru units, originally intended for a Greggs bakery and Dunkin’ Donuts, at the West Point site, off Linkway West.

Consent was sought for the creation of two “class E units” for the selling of hot and cold beverages for consumption on and off the premises.

The units are to be situated in the corner of the complex towards Liverpool Road.

Starbucks is to open at West Point (Image: Orbit Developments (St Helens Council Planning Portal))

Plans included for internal and external seating areas, provision of drive-thru lanes, car parking, landscaping and associated works. 

Under the initial plans, one proposed unit would be 180 sq metres internally and the other 130 sq metres.

The proposals are the final part of ‘Phase B’ of the development at Linkway West, which the existing Costa Coffee forms part of.

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The completed phases A and C at the site have seen an Aldi supermarket, Home Bargains store, Superbowl tenpin bowling alley, and German Doner Kebab restaurant already launch at the site over the past several years, with Planet Doughnut recently closing its premises at the location.

A new application was submitted in April this year by Orbit, seeking to make some amendments to the original plans for phase B.

Costa Coffee, at West Point (Image: Orbit Developments (St Helens Council Planning Portal))

These included for "changes to units A and B, alterations to landscaping, cycle spaces and drive-thru lane, relocation of waiting bay, removal of staff crossing point, extension of kerb island between drive thru lanes, and addition of acoustic fence".

Plans stated that for Unit A there will be additional timber cladding to the front elevation, additional glazing to a side elevation with timber overlay, a relocation of a secure cycle store and repositioning of two cycles stands. Also the removal of a fire escape door to a side elevation and an associated amendment to a glazed curtain walling has been made.

Meanwhile, for Unit B a change to external materials including the colour of timber cladding and the addition of a render finish, the drive thru order point has been moved further along the lane, with the repositioning of a front door and relocation of a rear door.

There has been an amendment to a bin store and extension of a kerb island between drive-thru lanes, with the addition of an acoustic fence between order points.

The amendments have been approved by, meaning no new planning permission will be required.

The application did not reference any changes to the expected tenants for the units. 

However, coffee shop giant Starbucks has confirmed that it will be launching a premises at the site. The Star understands this will be in place of the originally proposed Dunkin' Donuts unit.

The Star has not yet received a response from Dunkin' Donuts after asking if the chain is no longer involved in the Linkway West project.

A Starbucks spokesperson said: “We look forward to bringing the Starbucks experience to customers in Linkway West, St Helens in the near future and will be in touch once we have more specific plans to share.”

The Star also contacted Greggs but has not yet received a response.