THE coffee giant set to open a new 24-hour drive-thru coffee shop in Wirral has been revealed as Costa.

The firm has submitted advertising consent for a new unit at Croft Retail and Leisure Park – one of Wirral’s most popular shopping outlets.

It will be located on Welton Road next to Pizza Hut and on the current site of ARC car wash centre, which will be demolished.

It’s believed to be the first 24-hour Costa drive-thru on Merseyside, and the region’s second round-the-clock drive-thru alongside the Starbucks at Windle Island, on the A580 in St Helen’s.

If plans are approved, the store will open at all hours of the day and night – including on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Wirral Globe:

The car wash site where the new Costa is set to go

This week, the store submitted artist’s impressions of how it’s set to look.

The fate of the other Costa Coffee shop – located a stones throw away within the main retail area – is as yet unknown.

Costa was contacted for comment.

Initial plans were submitted by the developer last month and validated on Tuesday, and the building will be 1,800sq m in size.

The design and access statement revealed this week said: “The proposed design will enhance the offer on the retail park by replacing an existing car wash with a new pod unit to the south of the car park.

“The scheme proposes an additional parking space and three pedestrian crossings to improve access throughout the park.

“The proposed unit for the development is identified on the accompanying drawings.

“The intention is to improve the type and variety of services offered by the retail park.”There is already a McDonald’s drive-thru at Croft Retail Park, as well as a Subway, Pizza Hut, Nando’s, KFC and Greggs.

As well as the new Costa, which will have outside seating, plans are well underway to build a new Card Factory unit next to Boots.