Breakthrough at last in bid to open first McDonald's restaurant in Kirkby

The fast-food giant first announced its scheme for the drive-through on a vacant site at Lane End, close to the town’s railway station, in April 2024.

But it pulled the plug a few months later because Nottinghamshire County Council’s highways team was worried about traffic congestion, vehicular access and the layout of the eatery.

A fresh planning application was submitted to Ashfield District Council, with a decision or recommendation expected in March last year.

Talks have been ongoing ever since to resolve the concerns of the county highways team.

And finally, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel because the latest message from highways is that it “raises no objection to the application subject to conditions being included before permission is granted”.

Those conditions include McDonald’s not being allowed to open the restaurant until new traffic lights have been installed at several key junctions nearby.

Also, the company would need to make a contribution of £100,000 to upgrade an existing crossing and to provide a new pedestrian crossing in the vicinity to allay safety fears.

In its latest submission to Ashfield, the highways team says: “The new crossing would maximise connectivity to the proposed site, thus ensuring that the development gives priority to pedestrian movements and promotes sustainable modes of travel.”

It is understood that McDonald’s has agreed to pay the £100,000, and so a decision or recommendation on the whole scheme is now expected to be made by Ashfield’s planning officers this summer.

The one-acre site, which is opposite Kirkby’s Aldi supermarket, has been empty since the closure of an engineering factory many years ago.

McDonald’s feels the restaurant would help to redevelop a derelict area that is often viewed as a gateway to the town.

It would also be a huge boost to the local economy, creating the equivalent of 55 full-time jobs and bringing new business into Kirkby.

McDonald's launched a public consultation two years ago to ascertain the views of local residents. Letters and questionnaires were sent out, and a public meeting held.

It revealed that 83 per cent of 250 people who took part were in favour of the restaurant, with only 12 per cent firmly against.

This has also been reflected in the online comments received about the plan by Ashfield Council.

Many felt it would make Kirkby a more appealing place for visitors and help to transform that part of town.

However, some, including nearby residents, were concerned it would generate extra traffic, noise, litter and loitering, and have a damaging impact on independent cafes in Kirkby.

If the scheme gets the go-ahead, the restaurant and takeaway would cover an area of 527 square metres, with seating inside and a patio area outside. Its opening hours have yet to be divulged.

According to the original plans, there would be 36 parking spaces, plus cycle and motorcycle bays and charging points for electric vehicles.

A drive-through lane would accommodate 15 vehicles which, along with dedicated bays for customers waiting for orders, would reduce any congestion.

The building would be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, while 80 per cent of its packaging would be recyclable.

McDonald’s has also promised to conduct litter patrols within a 150-metre radius every day.

The fast-good giant operates 1,500 restaurants across the UK, and employs 135,000 people.

There are already four restaurants in Ashfield – three at Sutton and one in Hucknall – as well as four in Mansfield.

The 24-hour drive-through close to Hucknall train station, which opened in 2019, was initially rejected by Ashfield Council, but went ahead after McDonald’s won an appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/