Plans for Travelodge and Starbucks in Bury St Edmunds are set for approval

Plans for a Travelodge hotel and drive through Starbucks near a key Bury St Edmunds road have been recommended for approval despite concerns.

NHP Holdings Ltd wants to build the 80 bedroom hotel and coffee shop on the site of Tartan House, in Etna Road.

Nearby residents have raised several concerns including the potential for noise, infringement of privacy and increased traffic issues in Compiegne Way, which is one of the busiest roads into the town.

However, planning officers at St Edmundsbury Borough Council have recommended that councillors approve the proposals when they are considered on Thursday, July 6.

The majority of comments the council received from residents were from those who live in Etna Road and Out Northgate.

They felt the four storey hotel would be ‘imposing and a direct infringement on privacy’ and there would be ‘increased disturbance’ from users as well as ‘months of noise and mess’ during the building work.

Vehicles would access the site from Compiegne Way via the existing Etna Road junction and an improved existing access onto Compiegne Way will serve an overflow car park.

Residents said traffic in Compiegne Way will become ‘heavier’ and there was concern over site access and the ‘risk of accidents’.

Another said the entrance to the overflow car park ‘will cause more disruption onto one of the busiest roads into Bury’.

The Bury Society called for the removal of the Starbucks from the plans as it felt that the traffic generated will ‘overload Compiegne Way’.

Guildhall Properties, which owns the Enterprise Park site next to Tartan House, said the junction where Etna Road meets Compiegne Way is ‘inadequate and dangerous’ and called for improvements.

A report to councillors noted that the highways officer had no objection given that previous uses of the site had high vehicle movements and the accident data ‘gives no rise for concern’.

It added that the degree of separation between the hotel and nearest residential property is ‘acceptable’ and ensures the hotel would not be ‘physically overbearing’.

Conditions on the plans include visibility splays, 7am to 9pm opening for the Starbucks and 7am to 6pm delivery hours for the site.