PLANS have been submitted to Somerset Council to renovate the Starbucks Franchise at Taunton Railway Station.

Document 38/24/0330/LB is asking to refurbish the Starbucks retail unit at Taunton Railway Station, Station Approach North, Taunton.

Starbucks is situated on the island serving platforms 4-7.

Aside from the main public retail unit (or café), there is a kitchen and food preparation area, three storage areas (one of which is within a basement level) and an office.

The project is for the refurbishment of the public area only.

Minor refurbishment of the existing Starbucks retail unit, to include new fixtures, fittings, furniture and redecoration.

There will be no changes to the existing access arrangements at the station are proposed nor required. The retail unit is accessible via both stairs and lifts from the main station building.

The document says the refurbishment will 'provide a new and fresher public retail unit, still in keeping with the station’s heritage requirements.'

The building is a Grade II listed building and the only retail unit at the station is the Starbucks. Service Select Property (SSP Group) is an independent company which runs the franchises across GWR and other train companies across the UK.

A consultation took place with landlord (Great Western Railway) and station owner (National Rail).

The Station Road section of the Railway Station opened in about 1845 when the railway was opened. Taunton Station (South block) forms a group with former Great Western Hotel and the Wheel Tapper Public House.

Read the full plans on the Somerset Council planning portal. You can also comment on the plans.

The proposed development will be reviewed by Somerset Council planning officers before a decision to approve or refuse it will be made.