Drive thru restaurant at 63 - 68 St Annes Road, Cradley Heath

Demolition for a drive thru restaurant

The application sought to demolish the existing building and build a drive thru restaurant with access, parking and landscaping.

“DC/25/71017 – Demolition of existing building and proposed drive thru restaurant with access, parking, landscaping and associated works at 63-68 St Annes Road, Cradley Heath B64 5BJ”

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Objections and support letters

An amended plan added cycle storage and lockers, and the council received 54 objection letters and 15 letters of support.

“The Interim Development Planning Manager highlighted that an amended plan was received, showing further crossing, bike storage and lockers for staff. 54 letters of objection and 15 letters of support were received.”

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The applicant and an objector spoke

The applicant outlined the scheme's design, access, parking, landscaping, noise and odour mitigation and expected jobs; an objector raised concerns about its impact.

Concerns about fast food near schools

An objector and members raised the site's proximity to schools and nurseries and the town's level of hot food takeaways, though no distance restriction applies under current policy.

“Members sought clarification regarding planning policy relating to the proximity of fast-food outlets to schools. The objector stated her belief that the Council's previous 400-metre restriction had been superseded by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), a position acknowledged by the applicant.”

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Officers said noise and highway impacts were acceptable

Officers said technical noise and highway assessments found the impacts acceptable subject to conditions, and that most drive thru traffic would be existing traffic on the network.

“The Interim Planning Development Manager advised Members that all Planning Committee members had received correspondence from the developer on behalf of McDonald’s. The objector confirmed that she was a local resident and reiterated concerns regarding the impact of the proposed development on neighbouring properties, particularly in relation to noise, air pollution, highway safety and the proximity of schools.”

“In response to Members' questions regarding highway impacts, officers advised that traffic modelling and technical assessments indicated that the majority of vehicles visiting the drive-thru during peak periods would be existing traffic already travelling along the network, rather than new trips being generated.”

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Deferred for a site visit

Members decided to visit the site to better understand the concerns raised before deciding the application.

“Members noted the concerns of objectors and felt it would be beneficial to visit the site to better understand some of the issues highlighted.”

“Resolved that Planning Application DC/25/71017 – 63-68 St Annes Road, Cradley Heath B64 5BJ (Demolition of existing building and proposed drive thru restaurant with access, parking, landscaping and associated works.) is deferred for a site visit to further explore material planning concerns.”

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