McDonalds and Costa Darlington drive-through plans in doubt

The proposal for Faverdale Industrial Estate also includes plans for a tanning salon, vets and a ‘bulky goods’ store similar to Wickes to add to the new Lidl supermarket nearby. Work is underway to open a drive-through Starbucks and Home Bargains store at the site, as developers hope to improve retail and food outlets in the area. 

At a meeting on Tuesday, councillors on Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee deliberated over the proposal for nearly two hours, as they heard how 224 residents formally backed the plans compared to 49 objections. 

The local authority’s planning committee had recommended approval but the future of the proposal now hangs in the balance. The majority of members raised concerns over the impact the development would have on the local area, and while they did not definitively refuse the application they indicated their intention to and the matter was deferred. 

It means planning officers will now be tasked with detailing the specific reasons why members plan to object ahead of the next meeting next month and in anticipation of a likely future appeal from the developer. 

Read more: McDonalds, Taco Bell and Costa Coffee set to open drive-throughs in Darlington

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

Yet members were repeatedly criticised by each other after failing to quickly reach an agreement, with the meeting later described as “amateur hour”. It lead to newly-appointed Green cllr Thomas Robinson saying: “What’s the point in meeting if we are not going to make decisions - we’re appointed to represent” before a frustrated cllr Ian Haszeldine added: “we’re going round in flaming circles and it’s doing my head in.”

Speaking after the meeting, ward councillor Scott Durham, said the community could miss out on extra funding as part of the plans. “On behalf of the majority of residents I am disappointed the development hasn’t been approved,” he said. “I worry for future investment opportunities coming into this borough if this is the way the planning committee behaves. It was amateur hour.” 

The meeting heard how previous plans for a large Tesco supermarket and petrol station were pulled over the “profound effect on Cockerton and the town centre”, planning officer David Coates said. But he stressed the need for new facilities to serve the expanding West Park estate. He added: “While there’s an impact on Cockerton there’s a huge amount of development which needs to be serviced in a particular way and Cockerton in its current form won’t do it. As West Park builds out, and because of the limited offer in Cockerton, people are reaching out to Bishop and West Auckland to go to supermarkets.”

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A statement on behalf of the applicant added: “This part of Darlington is a fast-growing, expanding area that needs facilities to serve it.”

Yet the majority of committee members favoured protecting existing independent business in the town. Cllr Gerald Lee warned they could be “signing the death knell for our town centre” if the proposal was approved. 

Christine Donnelly, a nearby resident, called for the drive-through restaurants to be removed from the plans, as McDonalds already has two outlets in the town. She also called for lorries to travel via a designated route to the site, avoiding West Auckland Road. “This development is going to be literally on our doorstep and the traffic at peak times is absolutely horrendous. This proposal is going to put extra strain on the road,” she added.  

Several local businesses have served Cockerton and its residents for years (Image: Stuart Boulton)

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Ward cllr Scott Durham warned that the Taco Bell could lead to 50-car deep queues due to its popularity. “One of the drive-throughs will be a honeypot for people,” he added.”There’s only one other in the area and that’s Middlesbrough.” Yet he said he was minded to approve the proposal given the local support. 

Although the scheme was supported by councillors, members agreed to refuse the application on the basis that it would have an adverse impact on Cockerton and the town centre; it moved away from the local development plan; and wasn’t in accordance with National Planning Policy Framework. 

An update on the application is due in August.