Former Pizza Hut in Cosham could become a new coffee drive thru

A Starbucks drive-thru could be coming to Cosham, with plans submitted to transform the former Pizza Hut restaurant.

The global coffee shop brand has submitted proposals to Portsmouth City Council through property consultants Montagu Evans.

The planning application proposes works to the building off Binnacle Way, which sits within the wider Port Solent area.

The plans include a drive-thru coffee shop, electronic vehicle (EV) charging bays, a revised parking layout and new landscaping.

If approved, the coffee shop would comprise 206 sqm of internal space, a drive-thru lane and 25 parking spaces, including two disabled bays and eight EV charging bays.

Planning documents state: “The unit will be modern in appearance and compliment commercial development in the vicinity. External alterations are proposed to the building, including updated elevation façade, materials and glazing, in line with Starbucks branding and design approach.”

They add that the plans “fully accords with both national and local planning policy and should therefore be considered favourably by the council. It will have an overall positive effect on the area by way the provision of facilities for which there is a need, as well as high quality design and landscaping.”

The nearest Starbucks is nearly one kilometre away on Western Road, Cosham, while the nearest drive-thru is at Ocean Retail Park.

The council’s transport planning said “it is not considered the proposal would be detrimental to the highway function or result in any unacceptable impact to highway safety”.

It was reported in October 2025 that the former Pizza Hut, which was the city’s last remaining restaurant at the time, had closed after the company fell into insolvency.

It was one of 68 dine-in locations that the company closed in favour of delivery locations, with outlets in Cosham High Street and Kingston Crescent in North End.

You can learn more about the application on the council’s website using the reference 26/00897/FUL. So far, no members of the public have commented.