Proposals for new Starbucks and Burger King drive-thrus in a Cheshire town are temporarily on ice after planning chiefs deferred a decision amid concerns over the scheme's layout.

A planning application was submitted in March by AIM Land Limited for two units on the car park of Green Oaks Shopping Centre on Green Oaks Way, Widnes. One would be occupied by fast food chain Burger King, and the other by coffee giant Starbucks

If given go ahead it would have resulted in the loss of 207 existing parking spaces. Outline planning permission was originally granted in March last year for a drive-thru scheme with unnamed tenants.

But at a meeting held last night (Monday, August 5) at Runcorn Town Hall to discuss the finalised plans, Halton Council's development management committee opted to deferred a decision due to concerns about the layout, opting to visit the site first before having a final vote.

Appleton ward councillor Angela Teeling had also submitted an objection to the scheme citing traffic, litter and impact on nearby businesses.

She said: "The road is only a single lane either way, currently it gets congested on a regular basis and the added traffic joining the roads will only impact this. The roundabouts at either end of this stretch of road are not large enough to take added traffic, more so when you consider that this is a major bus route."

She also claimed the development would have a negative impact on neighbouring businesses.

She said: "Being close to the market, high street and other local businesses, if built, these will have a detrimental impact on the finances and footfall of the other establishments in the area."

A report to the committee said the Highways Authority had raised an issue over loss of parking, but said it was not enough to sustain an objection.

It said: "The Highway Authority has raised concerns throughout the application process mainly due to the loss of 207 car parking spaces in the central car parking area.

"Given the outline permission granted in 2023 and the applicant's suggestion that significant capacity remains in Green Oaks car park as a whole - albeit largely due to the introduction of car parking charges - an objection on this ground could not be sustained."

A date for the site visit is yet to be arranged.