WORK has begun on a development which will welcome a new store and coffee shop to Droitwich.

The controversial 'business park', which the Wychavon District Council planning department approved last year, has started to be built.

The project will see the town get a new Sainsbury's supermarket, a Costa Coffee drive-thru, two industrial units, parking spaces, and electric vehicle charging points on Copcut Rise.

Pictures show the new entrance to the development on Copcut Boulevard being constructed, with a path being cleared for construction vehicles. 

PLAN: How the new Costa Coffee drive-thru and new Sainsbury's would look at the site off Roman Way in Droitwich (Image: Hinton Properties) The entrance has also been gated off with signs warning pedestrians of the work.

Diggers can also be seen moving the earth in the gated area.

Plans submitted by Hinton Properties show how the developers plan to divide the 130 parking spaces proposed for the site.

There will also be 20 accessible car parking, 21 motorbike parking and 22 cycle parking.

Work has recently started on the site in Copcut Rise. Work has recently started on the site in Copcut Rise. (Image: Newsquest) The business park will create around 175 full-time jobs in a wide range of retail and commercial roles.

The Costa Coffee Drive-Thru will also have cafe seating, and there will be 58 parking spaces for both the coffee shop and Sainsbury's Local, including eight ultra-rapid charging spaces.

Cars will enter the business park from Copcut Boulevard using an existing junction, and new pedestrian and cycle access will be provided from the Copcut Rise development.

SITE: The entrance to the new facilities from Copcut Boulevard off Roman Way in Droitwich (Image: Hinton Properties)The committee first voted on whether to reject the plan, which was lost and then agreed to it with seven votes to three and three abstentions.    

The original planning permission from 2013 included space for a neighbourhood centre, which included shops, community facilities, an emergency services post, and employment land to accompany the homes.

Residents derided the plans for the land between Roman Way and Copcut Boulevard, with more than 140 objections lodged with the district council before the decision was made in July 2023.

Many said they would not have bought a home nearby if they knew about the plans for Copcut Business Park.

The new Copcut Rise estate off Roman Way in Droitwich consists of more than 740 homes and was approved by council planners a decade ago.