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Connswater Shopping Centre will be home to the first ever drive-through Starbucks in Northern Ireland.

Coffee lovers across Belfast will be delighted, as the coffee giants have signed a deal with the retail park's owners which will see them open the drive-through later this year.

Though still subject to planning permission, the proposed store is part of a wider £200,000 investment in the area, with a landscaping project to improve access to the retail park and shopping centre as part of Belfast City Council's Greenway Project.

The landscaping project, which is also subject to planning approval, is due to be completed by January 2017, and Lidl's new store at the site is also expected to open at around the same time.

Laura McCarthy, asset manager for Killultagh, said: “The decision by Starbucks to choose Connswater as its first location in Northern Ireland for a drive-through store demonstrates the confidence that retailers have in the scheme and its strategic location in East Belfast.

“With such positive activity taking place we believe that now is the right time to invest in the wider project and to connect our Centre to the work that Belfast City Council is doing as part of the Connswater Community Greenway, with a new urban walk way and pedestrian crossing. We are always striving to improve the shopping experience for our customers and this project will play an important role in that.”

Ryan Kee, director of retail agency at Lambert Smith Hampton, has hinted that there are plenty more exciting developments in the works, with more retailers expressing interest in moving into the development. More announcements are expected later in the summer.