Council rejects plan for second Starbucks in Borders

A council has turned down proposals by Starbucks to build its second café in the Scottish Borders.

The US coffee chain already has an outlet in Galashiels and wanted to develop a derelict site on Station Road in Kelso.

The proposals divided opinion in the Borders town which already has a large number of independent coffee shops.

The council’s planning department concluded the drive-through would be “incongruous” to the area and it had not been proved it would not harm the “vitality and viability” of the town centre.

Officials said it had not been shown that the development could not have been sited in the town centre or closer to it.

They said the project could set an “undesirable precedent” for food and drink developments outside the heart of the town and also detract from the residential character of the area involved.

Opponents argued that the proposed location would draw people away from the town centre.

However, Kelso and district councillor Tom Weatherston described the rejection as a “massive missed opportunity”.

“That site has sat there empty for over 30 years, it’s the biggest eyesore in Kelso and I’m bitterly disappointed,” he said.

“I think folks have slightly missed the point, Sainsbury’s café closed after Covid, which was further out of Kelso than this proposal, and the actual town centre cafés actually increased in number.

“I’m not convinced this new café would have had any impact on the town centre.”

Starbucks said it did not comment on planning applications.

However, it has previously said that it believed it could work alongside local businesses.

“We believe independent stores can thrive along with Starbucks, leading to a vibrant coffee scene benefitting us all,” it said.