Burger King and Costa Diss plans being considered as official planning application submitted

Plans have been officially submitted for a proposed Burger King and Costa in Diss.

The proposal, which includes an electric vehicle charging centre, drive through facilities and an electricity substation, were discussed by the town council's planning committee in June.

During the meeting, Leslie Short of Artisan Planning and Development Consultants and developer Jamie Glerum of The Charge showed details of the scheme, which would be built at the eastern end of Victoria Road, next to De Lucy Care House.

Councillor Eric Taylor, who was voted in to remain as the committee’s chairman at the meeting, said, on looking at the documents, that the project had "a few mountains to climb".

He added: “We are not against the development and we as a council and the Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan would be happy to be involved and discuss these concerns going forwards.”

Councillors had raised concerns on a number of issues, including the site being on flood zones, traffic issues on Victoria Road and the site being in a green corridor.

The project would also need to be in keeping with the Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan, which is used to shape where developments in the town can go in the future.

The town council has yet to add comments to the official application, which was validated on August 9, offering two new branches of the major chains with floorspace of 180 metres-square in each building.

The parking area will include 56 parking spaces, with 8 including full charging facilities, and the outlets themselves aim to provide 25 full-time jobs and 10 part-time.

The plans will be deliberated on by South Norfolk Council over the coming weeks.