PLANS for a new Costa Coffee drive-through have been submitted as part of a scheme aimed at regenerating an area of Newport.

Newport City Homes is proposing the drive-through coffee shop on land between Usk Way and East Dock Road, known as Old Town Dock.

The city’s largest social landlord bought the 10-acre site in 2017, with plans to build “at least” 150 homes and “completely revitalise the area.”

Proposals submitted to the council say the drive-through will create 20-25 jobs and bring “significant economic benefits.”

Newport City Homes say the plans could be crucial to allow for further development on the site.

“The application is a seen as a forerunner to a more comprehensive proposal covering the remaining element of the site which is allocated for residential uses,” a planning and retail statement says.

“It represents a crucial element in the overall development of the site as a whole from a viability perspective.”

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Built as one of Costa’s new “eco pod” stores, the coffee shop would also be one of the UK’s first zero energy retail buildings.

The environmentally friendly design would include a special timber frame, as an alternative to a traditional steel one, solar panels on the roof, energy retaining insulation and an under floor heating system.

It is planned to open from 5am to 11pm, with a drive-through lane accessible from East Dock Road.

Thirty-two car parking spaces are proposed, along with eight cycle spaces.

Tree and shrub planting also forms part of the scheme, along with a grass area to create “an attractive, green corner feature” at the busy roadside location.

The site is currently empty and “unattractive” – it was previously an old dock used for coal exportation.

Costa Coffee says it has identified “a need for an additional store ” in Newport, with demand expected to increase when approved housing developments are completed.

None of the city’s four existing Costa Coffee stores – which do not include drive-throughs – would be affected by the development.

A drive-through was included in an outline planning application approved in 2015, along with 24 houses and 65 flats.

But while the housing development was completed, the drive-through was not due to “viability issues regarding the site in its entirety.”

The previous permission has now expired, meaning a new application is required.