By John Baron
Controversial plans for a new Burger King drive-thru restaurant in Kirkstall will be decided by councillors next week.
As exclusively reported by WLD last year, real estate investment trust NewRiver Retail has submitted the single storey 190 sq m plan for the disused corner plot at Kirkstall Retail Park, next to Matalan, which previously had planning permission for two new retail units.
Developers say the new restaurant, off Savins Mill Way, would create 40 new jobs, but there have been 26 objections.
Concerns have been raised by Cllr Fiona Venner, Cllr Hannah Bithell, Cllr Andy Rontree (all Kirkstall), and Cllr Adele Rae and Cllr Kevin Ritchie (both Bramley & Stannignley) mainly over fears it will exacerbate existing traffic problems in the area, air pollution and concerns there is a saturation of drive thru restaurants in the area.
One local objector said: “The road that provides main access to the whole site … is swamped by traffic on most days and gridlocked during rush-hour traffic. This development, if allowed, would further burden the collapsing local road network bringing further misery to Kirkstall residents.”
And civic watchdog Leeds Civic Trust argued: “The proposal exemplifies everything the city is trying to discourage through its various strategies: reducing unnecessary vehicle traffic and encouraging active travel; reducing vehicle emissions which contribute to climate change; reducing air pollution; and improving health and well-being.”
But council planning officers are recommending approval, subject to a raft of conditions including highways contributions. These include £30,000 for signal timing improvements on the A65/Savins Mill Way and £42,000 towards red light violation cameras.
A planning officer’s report concludes: “The proposed restaurant and drive-thru is considered acceptable within Kirkstall town centre and would not unduly impact on the residential amenity or create a significant adverse impact upon the highway network, subject to the mitigation measures.”
A planning statement submitted by the developers with the application states: “The scale of the building is able to facilitate take away customers, both an indoor and outdoor seating area for visitors as well as an adequately sized back-of-house area for staff to enable efficient service.”
The south and west plans panel meets at Leeds Civic Hall on Thursday, 5 September at 1.30pm. The agenda and council reports can be found here.
Sponsored content
