Costa is the latest business to lodge plans for a retail outlet in an industrial estate which has been hailed as the future “gateway to Elgin”.
The coffee company has been identified as the operator for a drive-through store next to the busy A96.
The firm is considering a move to the empty site on the east of the town, following the news Grampian Furnishers has submitted proposals for a showroom on a nearby plot.
Elgin City North councillor, Patsy Gowans, believes the recent activity shows the area is becoming hot property and hopes more will follow.
She said: “This is all about economic development. There are houses being built in the north and south of Elgin and the people moving into them will need furniture and coffee shops.
“It’s all about supply and demand. Business will always create business and the area next to the A96 is certainly a prominent place.
“Costa is quite good at attracting business. It’s a chain and I’m not always a fan of chain stores moving to the area, but it would certainly be a good addition to that side of the town.
Costa already has two stores in Elgin – one in the town centre and another at the Edgar Road retail park.
Jack Brown has submitted plans to Moray Council to open the store on Riverside Road with the coffee firm as the proposed operator.
Documents submitted to planners stated a hotel could be built on the rest of the surrounding land next to the A96 as well as storage, industrial and leisure uses.
In a report submitted to the authority, Mr Brown explained the coffee shop would drive economic investment in the area and generate jobs.
The site is already home to a KFC drive-through and is across the road from the Barmuckity development – which could create up to 4,000 jobs in a hotel, shops, industrial estate and homes complex.
The project stalled after initially being proposed a decade ago, but fresh interest from firms in moving to the area has reinvigorated the idea.
The business park has been hailed as creating a “gateway to Elgin” with a wetland water feature and avenues of trees.
Costa was approached for comment, but there was no response.
