Council rejects planning application for drive-thru at Kinsale Road retail park

Planning permission for two new café/restaurants at KFC and Costa Coffee units has been refused.

The developer had dropped one of the two planned drive-thrus due to a previous objection from planners, but the council has now turned down the overall scheme.

Motor Services Ltd (MSL Group) had sought permission for two single-storey units on the western section of the car park at Turners Cross Retail Park, formerly Kinsale Road Retail Park. The site is close to Musgrave Park and the Creamfields housing development now under construction.

In March, City Hall planners issued a request for further information. They said the drive-thru elements of both units contravened the City Development Plan, and gave the applicant a chance to revise the scheme by omitting them.

In a response lodged in September, MSL removed the drive-thru from the KFC unit. It said the unit would instead operate as a restaurant, with takeaway orders placed and collected inside. However, the company sought to keep the drive-thru lane serving the Costa unit.

But in a decision last week, the council refused permission for a single reason. It said the inclusion of a drive-thru and its associated infrastructure was contrary to the development plan’s objectives on transport and mobility, walkable neighbourhoods, and active travel.