The £12 million project would see a five-storey facility constructed incorporating self-storage areas, co-working space – and a trailblazing new type of drive-thru
Northwich could soon be home to one of the nation’s first AI-powered coffee shop drive-thrus if local planners give the go-ahead.
Cheshire West is poised to decide on a proposal from property firm WUKPG for a plot off Chester Way. The ambitious £12 million development would feature a five-storey building offering self-storage units, shared office space, and an innovative drive-thru operated by British start-up Bocca Felice.
Bocca Felice is gearing up to launch its first 22 outlets across the UK within the year, with the inaugural store opening this month, and plans to expand to 80 by the end of next year.
The brand is set to revolutionise the drive-thru experience with AI-driven customer service, where patrons will place their orders with an artificial intelligence system equipped with natural language processing (NLP) skills, allowing it to comprehend and respond to human speech.
Online details indicate that Bocca Felice’s coffee shops will boast machines capable of crafting 350 beverages per hour, which is significantly more than standard coffee machines. The AI technology is touted to have an impressive 98 per cent accuracy rate.
A planning document highlights that the project could generate up to three full-time and two part-time positions, noting: “The proposed development therefore provides a benefit, albeit modest, in respect of job creation in a highly accessible location.”
Additionally, the plans reveal that the establishment will include both indoor and outdoor seating for customers to enjoy their purchases.
The proposed development will not only feature a coffee shop but will also boast a self-storage facility, offering a vast 5,797 sq m of space spread over five levels, with Shutter Store at the helm.
Delving into the planning details: “At the ground floor of this main building, floorspace will be provided for a shared work space available for people to hire to use as a flexible co-work or meeting space. This shared work space use is located adjacent to the reception of the building.”
Those interested in the project can access the full plans on the local council’s planning portal, using the reference number 25/00889/FUL.
