McDonald’s has lodged plans for a new restaurant at the Coliseum Shopping Park in Ellesmere Port. The fast-food giant wants to open a branch with more than a hundred seats at the vacant former TUI store.
It says the new eatery would help “ease pressure” on its popular drive-thru restaurant at the neighbouring Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, which “operates significantly above capacity”. Travel company TUI vacated the unit last year in order to downsize by relocating to the former Maplin store.
As part of its plans for the site, McDonald’s is proposing external alterations including removing a section of existing glazing to the side of the building to provide a new glazed door as well as installing a new double door to the rear of the site. The fast-food chain is also planning to erect a ‘Golden Arch’ sign at the front of the property.
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The full planning application, submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council by planning and development consultancy firm Lichfields on behalf of McDonald’s, states: “McDonald’s proposes to operate a restaurant from the unit, which will provide around 105-115 seats.
“McDonald’s existing drive-thru restaurant at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet operates significantly above capacity, which brings impacts in terms of both customer experience and traffic congestion at peak times. The proposed new restaurant at Coliseum Shopping Park should ease pressure on the existing restaurant at Cheshire Oaks. The proposed external alterations are necessary to meet McDonald’s operational requirements.
“The proposed addition of 1 no. new door to the northern elevation and 1 no. new door to the eastern elevation is a minor change when considered in the context of the unit and wider Coliseum Shopping Park and would not impact the character or visual amenity of the local area. The proposed doors are not visible from the public highway.
“In summary, while the site has a complex planning application history, the subject unit benefits from an unrestricted Class E permission. It can therefore be occupied as a restaurant without the need to seek approval for a change of use.”
The latest restaurant plans come just weeks after McDonald’s got the green light fort a new drive-thru restaurant on vacant land just off the M53 in Ellesmere Port. Around 120 jobs are set to be created by the new development on a site next to the Green Oak Farm pub.
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