Burger King bid at Stane Park rejected by Colchester Council

Colchester Council has rejected plans for the global chain to open a drive-thru at Stane Park.

The empty unit hasn’t been occupied since it was built in 2018 but earlier this year it was revealed Burger King was interested in the site.

As part of the proposals to redevelop the site, the building would have to be knocked down and rebuilt, adding a drive-thru lane.

But the council has ruled the new restaurant would be “car dominant” and would “not safeguard” pedestrian access across that area of Stane Park.

The council also argued demolishing a building and creating a new one would not be very climate-friendly.

The decision notice said: “The proposed development being a drive-thru restaurant, with associated infrastructure, results in a car dominant scheme with the drive-thru infrastructure being particularly prominent from public vantage points.

“The nature of the development as a drive-thru restaurant does not reduce the need to travel, nor does it enhance accessibility for sustainable modes of transport.”

It added: “The introduction of the drive-through lane alongside the existing play park would result in a cramped area of public space, as well as introduce conflict between users of the park and vehicles.”

The report concluded that rebuilding the site would be “inefficient in terms of use of materials and creating waste.”

Concerned residents had been worried the site would contribute to antisocial behaviour.

One said antisocial behaviour in the area is “frequent” and added it will be “further increased" by another drive thru.

The leisure park, which concluded construction in 2018, already has The Princess Charlotte pub, two drive thru café and restaurants in Starbucks and KFC and three other buildings, one occupied by Nandos, one now occupied by Vets for Pets and Unit 3 which is vacant.

Despite ongoing marketing by specialist agents Savills and Edgerley Simpson Howe, no interest for the unit had been received until Burger King.