Starbucks is turned down

9:33am Wednesday 18th April 2007

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Proposals to open up a coffee house on a borough retail park have been thrown out by councillors after they were slammed by nearby residents.

The plans for Kew Retail Park, rumoured to be for a Starbucks, saw nearly 200 objections filed and a petition of more than 1,000 names.

Councillor Serge Lourie, council leader and Kew councillor, said the development would have been too much for the park.

He said: "Kew Retail Park is very successful but it is really operating at capacity.

"Having a coffee shop would just have been the straw that breaks the camel's back.

"It would have just made the traffic even worse and I consider it to be an overdevelopment.

"I am delighted it was refused."

He added: "I would like to congratulate the Kew Residents' Association on the excellent campaign they fought against this unsuitable development."

In a document submitted to the planning committee on Thursday, April 5, Coun Lourie said the development would also exacerbate the unattractive appearance of the retail park.

The report goes on to say: "A large number of objectors have pointed to amenity as a ground for refusal.

"However, the nearest houses in West Park Avenue would be 45m away and there would be substantial landscaping and a public footpath between the unit and the rear gardens of these properties.

"The proposal is not for a takeaway and therefore there are no strong grounds to suspect that litter would be a significant problem."

It added: "The applicants have indicated that Starbucks would want the flexibility of also servicing the site outside trading hours.

"Without the background noise of other activities, noise and disturbance arising from loading, unloading and vehicular movements would cause nuisance to nearby residents and this potentially during antisocial hours."

A council spokesman confirmed the application was refused on the grounds of loss of landscaping and lack of adequate service arrangements.

It is thought a revised planning application will be submitted.