Major coffee outlet planning Tyrone drive-thru outlet

By Alan Rodgers

A DRIVE-thru coffee shop that would represent a first for Omagh town centre is set to be established at the Great Northern Retail Park in the town by Costa Coffee.

Six jobs could be created as part of the development which is expected to generate almost 400 customers daily at the site.

Planning approval is being sought for the development in the carpark of the retail amenity at the junction of the Tamlaght Road and Great Northern Road.

Those behind the scheme hope that it will attract around 30 customers an hour if the green light is given for the project.

Surveys completed as part of the application indicate that more than half of the shoppers currently visiting the Retail Park would also avail of a food and beverage outlet. But it will result in the loss of some of the existing 420 carparking spaces at the expansive development which currently has around six major retail units.

“As part of the development proposal, approximately 66 carparking spaces will be displaced from the existing site layout to accommodate the proposed coffee unit,” according to a document compiled by the transport consultant, Kevin McShane Ltd.

“However, the proposal also includes the use of a greenfield plot adjacent to the car park and an unmarked area to the area of the existing retail units.”

The application will see the construction of a single-storey drive-thru coffee shop unit. It will also include the construction of a customer order display unit, a height restrictor, landscaping and other associated site works.

It has been submitted in the past week by MBCC Foods and Harry Corry Ltd and a final decision on whether it gets the go ahead will be taken by the Planning committee of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.