A NEW Starbucks drive-thru looks set to be coming to Oldbury.

Plans for a cafe and drive thru at Oldbury Green Retail Park on Oldbury Ringway have been submitted to Sandwell Council.

Notes to planners state the restaurant would create 12 new jobs and would "represent a significant investment in the town centre in the context of the economic uncertainty as a result of the ongoing pandemic."

Plans show it would take up a section of the car park on the retail park, which already boasts a Homebase, Poundland, Next, Shoezone, Pets at Home, Carpetright, Bargain Buys, The Food Warehouse, Smyths Toys, Costa, Greggs, Card Factory and Burger King.

If planners give it the go-ahead the Starbucks will take up an area of 47 spaces on the car park.

Nine new spaces will be created, meaning a loss of 38 spaces on the 451 space car park.

Eight extra blue badge spaces and eight extra parent and child spaces will be created in front of the main shops.

Notes to planners state "a new pedestrian crossing will be provided to allow safe access for pedestrians visiting the cafe when walking across the drive thru lane."

Halesowen News:

The car park at the retail park. Pic: Google

They go on: "The building will provide a new frontage to Oldbury Ringway and will improve the character and appearance of this part of the site, which is currently dominated by car parking.

"The proposal forms part of an ongoing refurbishment and upgrading programme to ensure the continued vitality and viability of Oldbury Green Retail Park, which provides the principal retail offer within Oldbury Town Centre.

"Hobart Activum acquired the retail park in 2021 and are committed to continuing the wave of investment in the site established by BlackRock in recent years, which has introduced new operators to Oldbury, including The Food Warehouse, Greggs, Card Factory and Burger King."