Building work on the new Starbucks coffee-shop with drive-thru is progressing.

Situated off Weaver Meadow, in Hadleigh, the new store is close to the A1071 Ipswich Road, with access from Ellen Aldous Avenue.

Developed by the Burney Group, the framework of the building is complete and further facia and fit-out work is under way.

The coffee shop will span just under 200 square metres incorporating space for 4 EV chargers. and create around 20 new jobs in the town.

Plans for the new store were approved by Babergh District Council in October 2023, although Hadleigh residents had previously raised concerns that the site’s location, close to a busy roundabout, would cause traffic and parking problems for locals.

They also expressed concern that the popular chain will take over customers from small independent cafés located around the town.

Speaking previously, Councillor Helen Davies, the vice chair of the committee, explained the decision: “While we feel for the local residents, we cannot refuse a planning application unless there are strong defendable reasons for doing and unfortunately there weren’t in this case.”

With a completion target of summer 2024, it is predicted to create in the region of 20 new jobs for the town.