By John Baron
Council planning officers are recommending proposals for a new drive thru McDonald’s restaurant in Stanningley should be approved next week.
Councillors will next Thursday debate and decide whether to approve the plans, which include a new restaurant building, bin store, external seating and parking.
Proposals also include a new vehicular access off Town Street, which would be shared with a previously approved residential development for 40 homes.
Around 70 new full and part-time jobs could be created at the restaurant, which would open daily from 6am-11pm.
Bosses at the fast food chain want to build on the former site of the North Sea Chinese Restaurant and the Old Roundabout public house, off Town Street.
Locals views on the development appear to be split, with 56 letters in support, and 57 objecting.
Supporters point to job creation, regenerating an ‘unsightly’ site, and an ‘attractive and sustainable development’.
Opponents’ concerns include an increase in traffic and congestion, road safety issues, litter and concerns over unhealthy eating and poor public health in an area where there are more than 30 existing takeaways.
All three Bramley & Stanningley councillors have objected, citing the impact on residential amenity and potential for anti-social behaviour and the impact on road safety, particularly when the adjacent housing development is delivered.
A council planning officer’s report recommends the new drive thru restaurant should be approved, subject to a raft of conditions.
The report says the proposals raise no significant highway and pedestrian safety concerns in relation to access, traffic congestion and parking – and that a new zebra crossing will aid road safety.
It concludes: “The proposal for a restaurant/drive-thru is considered to provide benefits to the local area and wider economy by re-developing a brownfield site, creating employment … and will generate income for both the local and national economies, all of which weigh in favour of the proposal.
“Officers therefore consider that the benefits the proposal would have in terms of the re-use of previously developed land, making a positive contribute the urban character of the area, the provision of employment opportunities, whilst taking into account the nature of previous uses in this site would outweigh the potential impacts on promoting healthy communities and limited harm to residential amenity.”
Councillors sitting on the South and West Plans Panel will consider the application next Thursday, 23 October, 1.30pm and Leeds Civic Hall. The agenda and related reports can be viewed here.
The plans can be seen in full here.
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