Proposals have been unveiled to build a brand new drive-thru restaurant in Southport, creating up to 40 new jobs.
The new eatery would replace the Imo Car Wash at Kew Retail Park on Scarisbrick New Road, following the demolition of the car wash.
A 24-hour, seven days a week operation is proposed. The new business would create up to 10 full-time and up to 30 part-time jobs.
A planning application for the scheme has been submitted to Sefton Council, which does not name who the operator of the drive-thru and restaurant would be, although they are described as “an employer which prides itself on providing a well-trained workforce”.
They added: “curing a new national operator and improving the quality of the environment will act as a catalyst for further investment.”
The Old Duke pub and restaurant is located directly opposite the site, with a newly-renovated McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant located to the north west of the site.
Pre-application discussions have taken place with Sefton Council in July 2025. It was concluded the proposal was acceptable in terms of land use.
The application has been made by Custodian Property Income REIT plc with the submission drawn up by The Harris Partnership.
In the application, they said: “The proposed development and its location have been carefully selected to meet the operational requirements of the occupier, while also enhancing the economic performance of the wider retail park.
“By providing a complementary offer, the scheme will support the existing function of the retail park, increase consumer choice and encourage longer dwell times.
“This will help to maintain the site’s viability and reinforce its role as an edge-of-centre retail destination that supports the overall function of Southport as a retail centre.
“The proposed drive-thru will deliver a valuable and convenient facility for nearby commercial uses and the surrounding working population.
“The development represents the efficient use of previously developed land, removing an unattractive and disused building and replacing it with a high-quality, well-designed scheme set within landscaped grounds.
“These improvements will enhance the visual appearance and functionality of the site, while delivering wider benefits to the retail park and surrounding area.
“Securing a new national operator and improving the quality of the environment will also act as a catalyst for further investment.
“The proposal will directly create a range of permanent and temporary jobs for local people. “Temporary jobs will be created through the construction of the new drive thru facility and once operational, between 30-40 full and part-time roles will be required to support the operation.
“Permanent jobs will be with an employer which prides itself on providing a well-trained workforce.
“When operating on a 24-hour seven days a week basis, the operator will employ between 30 and 40 full and part time employees, including Management and Team member roles. Part-time staff are usually students who are available for (and seek) more shifts in busier periods (for example during summer holidays).”
In terms of the site, they said: “The viability of roadside drive-thru developments relies on high visibility, easy access and continuous passing trade from strategic road networks.
“This site benefits from its position on a major arterial route into Southport with several connecting roads, making it well-placed to serve the practical needs of the travelling public.
“The drive thru entry point has been located close to the eastern boundary. This allows the drive thru lane to meet the number of vehicles able to queue from the order point to the collection window. The drive thru lane has also been designed to run along the rear of the unit, thereby eliminating conflict between pedestrians and vehicles.
“A new external seating area has been provided in front of the unit allowing customers the option to utilise external space for dining. The main customer entrance has been located facing the main retail terrace in order to tie the two buildings together in terms of visual cohesion and assisting site navigation for visiting customers.
“The site will potentially further benefit from the Southport Eastern Access (SEA) scheme, which will upgrade local junctions, enhance pedestrian and cycle safety, and improve overall connectivity in the immediate area.”
There are currently 159 spaces at the retail park, of which six are dedicated car wash spaces. The development will remove 25 spaces (six car wash spaces and 19 retail park spaces) and re-provide 10 spaces through reconfiguration of the parking areas and re-providing parking for the drive-thru unit, a net reduction in total provision of 15 spaces.
The drive-thru will have a total of eight car parking spaces, two of the spaces will be for disabled users, and two will be to EV standard, adjacent to the new drive-thru unit.
The development will provide two motorcycle parking spaces and three cycle parking stands (six spaces) at the drive-thru unit.
The drive-thru lane will have capacity for nine vehicles, including space for eight vehicles to queue.
The proposed unit would be 1,880sqft (175sqm) GIA (gross internal area) 218sqm GEA (gross external area) in size.
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