Starbucks is set to open a new branch in Stroud - despite concerns from the local community it will take business away from independent cafes.
Developer Dransfield Properties, which owns the Five Valleys shopping centre in Gloucestershire, has confirmed a deal which will see the global coffee chain occupy a 1,450 sq ft unit in a building formerly occupied by Poundland and Woolworth’s.
The ground-floor outlet will be situated next to a new £6.5m medical centre King Street in the town centre, which is being built as part of the project’s latest phase of development. Fit out is expected to start in October.
An online public petition objecting to the Starbucks cafe was launched following reports earlier this month that a planning application had been submitted. Its organisers said its central location next to the railway station would draw customers from smaller local cafes. As of Monday, August 22, the petition had attracted more than 3,000 signatures.
Dransfield Properties said it had originally planned for the unit to be a pharmacy, but “despite best efforts over the last two years” no pharmacy had been willing to relocate its licence to operate at the premises.
Managing director Mark Dransfield said: The views from part of our community on the announcement of Starbucks joining us have been heard and I would urge anyone unhappy with my decision to contact my office and I will meet with them to hear their concerns and explain why I have taken this decision.
“I have invested with a number of independent businesses to help them achieve their goals and, as a family business, we will always support local traders but no town can exist without a mixture of national and local businesses.”
Five Valleys has undergone a major regeneration programme since it was taken on by South Yorkshire-based Dransfield Properties, which said it had so far invested £28.75m into the project.
The retail facility, formerly called Merrywalks, has so far seen upgrades to its multi-storey car park, while an indoor market of local artisan food producers - inspired by London’s Borough market - has also been created.
The scheme's other business tenants include Halfords, Home Bargains and Wilko.
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