BLACKBURN is to get its fifth Costa Coffee shop later this year creating more than 20 jobs.

Work is well under way for the drive-through outlet with indoor seating on the Peel Centre pin the outskirts of the town centre.

The shop is on the Peel Centre retail park near Asda.

The unit is being built on the car park in front of Halfords and will cut the number of vehicle spaces on the retail park by 48.

Documents submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council show the new outlet will create more than 20 jobs, mainly recruited locally, which will be equivalent to 11 full-time positions. Shifts and conditions will be tailored to suit students and working parents.

The council’s regeneration boss Phil Riley said: “It is good the see that once again Costa has chosen Blackburn as appropriate for the its continued development.”

Costa already has two shops at Blackburn’s The Mall Shopping Centre on Cobden Court and Ainsworth Street, one on the Riverside Retail Park, and one in NEXT on Townsmoor Retail Park.

News of the new drive-through follows the announcement of a similar 24-hour store on Hyndburn Road in Accrington, the second Costa outlet in that town.

The opening hours and date for the start of operations have yet to be finalised.

The application for planning permission by Costa to the council says: “The scheme intends to positively contribute to the economic growth of Blackburn”

It adds: “The ideal scenario is a store that has strong traffic flows, ideally 20,000 vehicle movements per day, a strong population within one and two miles or a five-minute drive if more rural or local employment within half a mile and other attractions such as retail, large employment use, school or university close by.”