No conditions for Wetherby Road drive-thru to be a Starbucks, says council

No conditions were set for a planned drive-thru on Wetherby Road to be a coffee shop, say Harrogate council officials.

Lancashire-based developer Euro Garages is currently building a Leon restaurant on the site, despite being given permission for a Starbucks drive-thru.

Local residents have raised concern that the building on the site will be different from that which was approved.

Harrogate Borough Council has acknowledged that the building being constructed is not the same as the designs submitted to the authority.

However, it added that the developer has already submitted another application for the design which is under consideration.

Opening a drive-thru on Wetherby Road is ‘nuts’

Joe Shields lives across from the former Dental surgery site where the Leon is being built.

He and other residents have objected to the drive-thru being built since is was first proposed as a Starbucks in 2019.

While he is not against redeveloping the site, he raised concern over the drive-thru and its affect on neighbouring residents.

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Mr Shields, who worked as a marketing manager for various companies including fast-food chains, said:

“I have opened a few drive-thrus, I’m not against them.

“It is opening a drive-thru here which is nuts.”

Mr Shields pointed to the fact that the building at the site does not look like its designs.

A Starbucks drive-thru normally has a slanted roof, while Leon schemes are flat.

(Left) Designs for the Starbucks as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council and (right) the construction site of the Leon.

(Left) Designs for the Starbucks as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council and (right) the construction site of the Leon.

He questioned how the developer can continue to build a Leon, despite the fact that a government planning inspector gave approval for a Starbucks coffee shop drive-thru.

Last week, Mr Shields was forced to alert the planning authorities when contractors at the site began to erect an eight-metre advertising sign without permission.

He said:

“There are changes at the site on a daily basis.

“My impression is that they will just continue wacking this [the Leon] up.”

Meanwhile, David Stephenson lives next door to the site on Coachman’s Court.

David Stephenson, whose house on Coachmans Court is next to the drive-thru site on Wetherby Road.

David Stephenson, whose house on Coachman’s Court is next to the drive-thru site on Wetherby Road.

Mr Stephenson has lived with his wife in the same house for six years and would be able to see the serving hatch from his lounge window.

He said that he has accepted the fact that a drive-thru will be built next door to his home.

However, Mr Stephenson said he was concerned that the building being built is not the same as the designs.

He said:

“We were resigned to a Starbucks, but this is a bit overbearing.

“Why apply for planning permission if you’re going to do another building?”

No specific conditions for a coffee shop

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate Borough Council how the developer was able to build the scheme as a Leon drive-thru when the original approval for the site is for a Starbucks coffee shop.

A spokesperson said:

“Permission was granted by the Planning Inspectorate for a ‘coffee shop to include a drive-thru’, not specifically for a Starbucks. 

“The Inspectorate did not add any conditions to the permission they gave restricting the use of the premises solely to a coffee shop, so it can legally be used for any other use within the same use class, which includes a drive thru food and drink establishment. 

“So permission is not required for any change of use. However, the building being built differs from the one given planning permission. Therefore, a planning application has been submitted for these changes and is under consideration.”

The Stray Ferret also asked Euro Garages to respond to concerns over the building and erecting advertising without permission, but the company declined to comment.

New Harrogate Leon set to open early May

The new drive thru Leon restaurant currently being built on Wetherby Road in Harrogate is expected to open in early May.

The healthy fast food chain has about 70 outlets in the UK and opened its first drive thru in Leeds last year. The Harrogate venue will be its second drive thru.

EG Group, which owns the site, received planning permission to open a Starbucks on the site of the former dental surgery.

Work to transform the site on Wetherby Road.

Its planning application was approved despite concerns about the volume of traffic.

A Leon spokeswoman confirmed the site would now be used exclusively as a Leon drive thru, which she added was “scheduled to open in early May”.

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She said the restaurant would create up to 15 jobs and there would be more than 50 seats inside and about 16 outside.

The spokeswoman added:

“We are so super excited about launching our second drive thru restaurant in Harrogate.”

Leon to open drive thru restaurant in Harrogate

Fast food chain Leon is recruiting staff to work at a drive thru restaurant in Harrogate.

The company, which has about 70 outlets in the UK, is to open on the Wetherby Road site that received planning permission to be a Starbucks..

The Stray Ferret revealed last month that speculation was growing that the site could host a Leon.

Now Alex Parkinson, general manager of the first Leon drive thru in Leeds, is advertising for staff.

In a post on a Facebook recruitment site, she said:

“I’m currently the general manager of the first Leon drive thru in Gildersome, Leeds — and I’m super-excited about opening our second drive thru in Harrogate.

“We are looking for team members and supervisors to join us.”

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Leon describes itself as a place that sells healthy fast food that is environmentally friendly.

Options include vegan sausage muffins, Harissa chicken salad and blackberry, apple and ginger porridge

Leon was recently bought by Euro Garages group, which was awarded planning permission last year to open a drive-thru Starbucks on Wetherby Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could fast-food chain Leon be coming to Harrogate?

Is fast-food chain Leon planning to open one of its restaurants in Harrogate?

The company, which describes itself as a place for healthy fast food, has about 70 outlets in the UK.

It was recently bought by Euro Garages group, which was awarded planning permission last year to open a drive-thru Starbucks on Wetherby Road.

Rumours have been circulating online that the group could prefer to open a Leon at the site.

The rumours were fuelled when a job advert for a general manager for a Leon restaurant in Harrogate was posted in November.

The Stray Ferret asked Euro Garages, which bought the chain last year for a reported £100 million, if it could confirm whether a Leon would be opening at the Wetherby Road site instead of a Starbucks.

However, a spokesperson would not be drawn on the issue.

Leon set for drive-thru expansion

Euro Garages has permission to open a Starbucks drive-thru on the former dental surgery site.

Work is already underway on Wetherby Road and the surgery has since been demolished.

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Although the company had earmarked the land for a Starbucks, it also has plans to expand Leon.

In December, Leon announced that following the takeover from Euro Garages it intended to open 50 more restaurants across the UK.

The fast food chain recently opened its first drive-thru in Leeds and opened new sites in Milton Keynes and Holtspur in Beaconsfield.

Speaking in December, Glenn Edwards, managing director of Leon restaurants, said:

“We are very excited to announce a significant acceleration of Leon’s expansion. For the first time we will be taking Leon across the country, driving regional growth at speed. The new formats in this rollout will build on our traditional restaurants and form a base for further growth.

“Making Leon even more accessible is at the heart of this strategic expansion. We are absolutely focused on delivering for our clients and living up to Leon mission – making it easier for everybody to eat well, live well and be kind to the planet.”

No agreement over Harrogate Starbucks appeal costs six months on

Harrogate council bosses have yet to reach an agreement with developers over appeal costs for a new Starbucks on Wetherby Road, despite the proposal being approved six months ago.

Euro Garages, the developer behind the coffee shop, took Harrogate Borough Council to appeal over its decision to refuse the proposal.

In July 2021, a government planning inspector granted permission for the new drive-thru to go ahead.

Euro Garages said the authority “demonstrated unreasonable behaviour” when refusing the application. It was granted costs for the appeal.

However, a spokesperson for the council said an agreement had yet to be reached over appeal costs.

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In May last year, council bosses decided not to challenge the appeal over concerns that losing risked legal costs of over £50,000.

The site of the former dental surgery site, which was earmarked for the coffee shop, has since been demolished.

Residents criticised the proposal for the Starbucks ahead of its approval.

Mark Hinchliffe, who has lived in Harrogate for 20 years, told the appeal hearing in June 2021 that the road was already dangerous without the development.

Harrogate Starbucks: no agreement on appeal costs

No agreement has been reached over the appeal costs for a new Starbucks drive-thru on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road.

Euro Garages, the developer behind the coffee shop, took Harrogate Borough Council to appeal over its decision to refuse the proposal.

The government’s Planning Inspector approved the development in July and also awarded costs against the council.

Euro Garages said the authority “demonstrated unreasonable behaviour” when refusing the application.

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However, a spokesperson for the council said an agreement had yet to be reached over appeal costs.

In May, council bosses decided not to challenge the appeal over concerns that losing risked legal costs of over £50,000.

Work on the drive-thru has since started and diggers have moved in to demolish the former dental surgery which will make way for the Starbucks.

When complete, there will be a coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces close to the Woodlands junction on the busy road.

Work starts on controversial Harrogate Starbucks

Diggers have moved in to demolish a former dental surgery and make way for a Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

Construction workers have been clearing overgrowth and moving out leftover furniture from 1st Dental Surgery before the site is levelled.

When complete, there will be a coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces close to the Woodlands junction on the busy road.

Developer Euro Garages has spent almost a decade trying to win permission for the work, which Harrogate Borough Council rejected three times.

The council turned down the latest bid back in 2019 on air quality and highways grounds.

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Euro Garages appealed and government planning inspector Helen Hockenhull overturned the decision in July and ordered the council to pay costs for the hearing.

The move comes despite fierce opposition from some local residents, who warned traffic on the road was already at “breaking point”.

Ms Hockenhull said in a decision notice:

“I recognise that my findings will be disappointing to the local residents and ward councillor who gave evidence at the hearing.

“With the proposed mitigation measures secured by planning conditions, I am not persuaded that the development would cause significant harm.”

The Stray Ferret has approached Euro Garages and Starbuck for comment.

Harrogate council ‘demonstrated unreasonable behaviour’ over Starbucks rejection, says inspector

Harrogate Borough Council “demonstrated unreasonable behaviour” in rejecting a Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road, according to a government planning inspector.

Helen Hockenhull, who oversaw an appeal by developer Euro Garages in June, approved the development for the former 1st Dental Surgery site on Friday.

She also awarded full costs for the hearing against the council.

The council turned down the development back in 2019 on air quality and highways grounds, but later withdrew its objection.

The move forced residents fighting the proposal to defend the authority’s reasons for refusal at the hearing.

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In a decision notice, Ms Hockenhull said:

“The council have not provided any evidence to support their position. 

“The reasons for refusal in relation to highways and air quality amount to persistence in objections in respect of matters which an inspector has already found to be acceptable. 

“I accept that members would have local knowledge of the area and the junction and many members would have personal experience of traffic issues in this location. However, it was unreasonable to persist with such objections, particularly as the floor area of the proposal had been significantly reduced.

“Given the above, I find that the council has demonstrated unreasonable behaviour which has resulted in the applicant incurring unnecessary cost in the appeal process. A full award of costs is justified.”

In response the inspector’s comments, a council spokesman said:

“Officer recommendation of approval was carefully considered against a wide range of issues, including local and national planning policy, case law, consultation responses and anything else considered to be ‘material’ to the application.

“This recommendation was overturned by the planning committee and permission was refused, which led to a successful appeal by the applicant.

“An agreement on costs has not yet been reached.”

The proposed layout of the Starbucks site on Wetherby Road as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council. Picture: Euro Garages.

The proposed layout of the Starbucks site on Wetherby Road, as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council. Picture: Euro Garages.

A spokesperson for Euro Garages said:

“We are delighted to have received planning permission and we are very pleased with the inspector’s decision.

“This development will help to create up to 20 local jobs for the area.”

‘Angry’ and ‘astounded’

The move to approve the development came despite concerns from local residents over traffic and air quality.

Residents at the appeal warned that the road was already at “breaking point” and that such a development would adversely affect those living next door.

Ms Hockenhull said she recognised her findings would be “disappointing” to local people, but added that she was “not persuaded that the development would cause significant harm”.

Cllr Pat Marsh, who represents the area on the borough council, said she was left “anrgy” and “astounded” following the decision.

She said:

“Many people throughout Harrogate will be outraged by this. It is not an appropriate place to put a drive-thru.

“I cannot understand how they have come to this decision. I felt all our arguments had great strength to them.

“The residents could not have done better to put forward their arguments.”

Councillor left ‘angry’ and ‘astounded’ at Starbucks drive-thru decision

A Harrogate councillor who fought against a plan for a Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road says she has been left “angry” and “astounded” after it was approved.

The government gave the go-ahead for the development on the former 1st Dental Surgery site after an appeal hearing was held in June.

Euro Garages, the developer behind the plan, took Harrogate Borough Council to appeal. But the council later withdrew its objection and residents were left to oppose the application by themselves.

Cllr Pat Marsh, who represents the area of the site, led residents in the fight against the proposal.

She said she had been left angry at the decision and warned that residents lives would be affected as a result.

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Cllr Marsh added that the development would have an adverse impact on the entire Harrogate area, not just on Wetherby Road.

She said:

“Many people throughout Harrogate will be outraged by this. It is not an appropriate place to put a drive-thru.

“I cannot understand how they have come to this decision. I felt all our arguments had great strength to them.

“The residents could not have done better to put forward their arguments.”

The layout of the proposed Starbucks on Wetherby Road

The layout of the proposed Starbucks on Wetherby Road

Despite multiple residents speaking against the development, planning inspector Helen Hockenhull said she was not persuaded that the site would cause “significant harm”

She said in a decision notice published yesterday:

“I recognise that my findings will be disappointing to the local residents and ward councillor who gave evidence at the hearing.

“However, based on the technical evidence before me and all that I have seen and heard, with the proposed mitigation measures secured by planning conditions, I am not persuaded that the development would cause significant harm.”

Ms Hockenhull also awarded costs for the proceedings of the appeal against the borough council.

The decision to approve the development comes after almost a decade of planning applications from Euro Garages.

The approval means the former dental surgery will be demolished to make way for a drive-thru coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces. This would then be handed over to Starbucks to operate.

A spokesperson for Euro Garages said:

“We are delighted to have received planning permission and we are very pleased with the inspector’s decision.

“This development will help to create up to 20 local jobs for the area.”

Government approves controversial Wetherby Road Starbucks

The government has approved a controversial Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

Planning inspector Helen Hockenhull gave the go-ahead for the development after an appeal by the developer Euro Garages Ltd.

The move comes despite fierce opposition from local residents, who warned that traffic on the road was already at “breaking point” and that such a development would adversely affect those who live next door.

Residents were forced to defend Harrogate Borough Council’s own reasons for refusal at the appeal hearing in June after the authority withdrew its objection.

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Among the concerns were highways safety, air quality and living conditions for those in neighbouring properties.

But Ms Hockenhull said in a decision notice that was published today:

“I recognise that my findings will be disappointing to the local residents and ward councillor who gave evidence at the hearing. 

“However, based on the technical evidence before me and all that I have seen and heard, with the proposed mitigation measures secured by planning conditions, I am not persuaded that the development would cause significant harm.”

Retail firm Euro Garages has spent almost a decade trying to win permission to open the coffee shop at the former 1st Dental surgery on Wetherby Road, Harrogate, but has been refused three times by councillors and once by a government inspector.

The approval means the former dental surgery will be demolished to make way for a drive-thru coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces. This would then be handed over to Starbucks to operate.

The Stray Ferret has approached Euro Garages for comment.