EG Carter & Co Ltd has begun construction on a new coffee shop for developer Robert Hitchins at Kingsway, Gloucester.

The 1,744 sq ft drive-thru has been pre-let to Starbucks franchisee The Magic Bean Company and replaces a dilapidated former officers' mess building in Naas Lane which in more recent times was used as a dance studio.

Michael Plimmer, senior development manager for Robert Hitchins Ltd, said: "We are coming to the end of the Kingsway development which has provided a new community with new homes, schools and a complete range of retail and leisure facilities on the doorstep of local people, supporting sustainable growth.

"In redeveloping the former officers' mess we are bringing another international retailer to Kingsway in a more modern, fit-for-purpose, contemporary building in keeping with the rest of the scheme, providing further economic benefits and additional facilities to the people who live and work in Kingsway and Quedgeley."

Mark Harries, associate director at EG Carter & Co Ltd, added: "We're delighted to be working alongside Robert Hitchins on this next phase of the Kingsway development. It's fantastic to see continued investment in this area, and we're proud to play a role in delivering a high-quality facility that will benefit the local community and enhance the amenities at Kingsway."

The Magic Bean Company will enter into a 20-year lease when construction is complete.

Laura Short, cluster manager for The Magic Bean, said: "We're excited to be bringing the Starbucks experience to the Quedgeley area. This new location will offer convenience, great coffee, and a welcoming space for the local community and those working in the area."

The arrival of Starbucks provides an important gateway to the Kingsway Business Park which forms part of a major mixed-use scheme on the site of the former 340-acre RAF Quedgeley.

Other national brands brought to Kingsway by Robert Hitchins include ASDA, Lidl, B&M, PureGym, MKM and Greene King.

The original masterplan for the former airbase included 3,300 homes, a 40-acre employment site, community and leisure facilities, retail, sports area and primary school.

Robert Hitchins, based at Boddington, Gloucestershire, is one of the leading property developers and investors in the South West and South Wales. It deals with the full development process from site acquisition and planning through to development and investment.