A new drive-through lane looks set to be installed as part of a coffee shop at a retail park.
Offering "a refreshed and updated experience" for customers, plans for an extension and a newly created drive-through lane at the Costa Coffee store in Lowestoft have been given the green light.
A scheme was submitted to East Suffolk Council in September, with plans centring around "extension of existing unit, creation of drive-thru lane, and associated landscaping, car parking and works" at the store on the North Quay Retail Park in Peto Way, Lowestoft.
The plans, produced by the Ratcliffe Groves Partnership on behalf of Brookhouse Group Limited, have been approved by East Suffolk Council under delegated powers.
A design and access statement said the chain has been operating as a drive-to coffee shop from their existing, purpose-built unit on the retail park since it was built in 2013.
The application added: "Costa have recently established a desire to explore the possibilities of converting this existing unit into a drive-thru (DT) facility.
"This requires the provision of a DT lane, and an extension to house the ‘pick-up’ point, and an increase to the unit size."
With seven parking bays to be lost and four trees to be removed and "replaced within the application site" as well as "planting a new hedgerow", a report from a delegated officer at the council said: "The proposed extension is of a simple flat roof design similar to the existing unit, and it will use materials that match those used in the existing building.
"The proposal seeks to erect an extension with a floor area of approximately 35sq m to facilitate the creation of a new drive-thru lane to the standalone coffee shop."
It added: "The proposal is not considered to have any adverse impacts on the character and appearance of the area, amenity of neighbouring land users or on highway safety.
"As such it is considered to comply with the local and national planning policy.
"The Town Council has raised no objections to the application, and no letters of objection have been received."
In recommending that "planning permission be granted" subject to conditions and in granting approval, a decision notice letter to the agents from the council stated: "Permission is hereby granted by East Suffolk Council."
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