Plans for KFC and Costa ‘drive-thru’ restaurants at Gallagher Leisure Park are being recommended for approval – despite a campaign by local residents.
Members of Leeds City Council’s south and west plans panel will decide on Thursday whether to approve the application.
Campaigners, who have submitted a 38-name petition against the plans, are concerned about extra traffic congestion, a proliferation of fast food outlets in the area, noise, litter and delivery times. There are six individual letters of objection and concerns were raised by Bradford Council over the quality of the design.
New owners Urban and Civic plan, who bought the Dick Lane park back in October, hope the two new ‘drive thrus’ will help reinvigorate the development.
A statement accompanying the planning application said developers aimed to invest significantly to help ‘sustain the park as a viable and attractive leisure location in the west Leeds / east Bradford area’.
A report to be considered by councillors recommends the plans be approved and says the proposal accords with relevant local and national planning policies. It concludes:
“The proposed scheme provides economic development on a previously developed area of land no longer required for its existing car parking use.”
A copy of the full report to councillors can be read here.
The application has been brought to the panel, which meets on Thursday at Leeds Civic Hall at 1pm, at the request of Calverley and Farsley Conservative councillors Andrew and Amanda Carter.
