A new McDonalds, Costa Coffee and Taco Bell drive-through restaurants are due to open in Darlington as further details about a new retail development have been revealed. 

The popular fast food retailers have been outlined for the expanding Faverdale Industrial Estate site, which is already home to a new Lidl supermarket with a Stabucks drive-thru and Home Bargains store in progress. 

Full details of the planning application, due to be approved by Darlington Borough Council next week, include six commercial units; three drive-through restaurants; one industrial unit and an electric vehicle charging station. 

If approved, a new vets and tanning salon will also open in one of the retail units. Home improvements retailer Wickes or Jysk have also been rumoured for the new development. The proposed development includes 314 car parking spaces (including disabled spaces and electric vehicle charging spaces), cycle parking, servicing areas. 

The planning application has been the subject of significant amendments since it was originally submitted. The scheme originally included a Tesco food store; a retail unit, two drive thru restaurants and a petrol filling station. But Tesco pulled out of the plans in 2021 and the scheme was amended to remove the petrol filling station and add a further drive-through unit. 

The Northern Echo: A new Lidl supermarket (right) has recently opened at Faverdale, with land to the west now set for redevelopmentA new Lidl supermarket (right) has recently opened at Faverdale, with land to the west now set for redevelopment (Image: Google)

The latest proposal was finalised in September 2022, but received eight letters of objection with just two in support. Residents said there is no need for retail or fast food takeaways, resources should go towards the town centre and any new facilities will have an adverse impact on Cockerton Village. 

“Whilst we are encouraged by the expansion of the area, our main concern is the traffic along the Faverdale Est. road,” one resident said. “Its always been a busy road and I have noticed a higher level of use since the Lidl has been open. This will rise again once Starbucks and Home Bargains open.”

In light of the concerns, the council sought independent, expert advice from retail consultants Nexus Planning on the acceptability of the developments and the impact it will have on neacrby Cockerton village in 2021. 

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“Cockerton continues to be a pleasant centre to visit, with a range of shops and services which are generally in a good state of repair,” the report states. “The critical issue remains that committed and proposed development at Faverdale would replicate a number of existing functions of the district centre at an out of centre site. Noting once again that the scale of the application proposal has increased, their view remains that the proposal would likely result in a significant adverse impact on Cockerton district centre.”

However, Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee previously rejected the findings of the study, as councillors said it only represented “an educated professional guess” and the type of stores being planned contrasted with those in neighbouring areas.

The planning application is recommended for approval by planning officers and will be heard on Wednesday, July 12.