McDonald's makes another bid to open controversial new Chesterfield restaurant

The fast food chain has resubmitted plans for the outlet, on West Bars, and they will be discussed by Chesterfield Borough Council’s planning committee on Monday, June 22.

An earlier proposal for the restaurant and drive-thru was thrown out by councillors last September – against the advice of their own planning officers who said it should be approved.

Officers have once again said the restaurant should be given conditional planning permission, but the resubmitted plans have been criticised by heritage leaders in the town.

Chesterfield Civic Society chairman Philip Riden said it ‘would be a retrograde step that would impede the borough council’s attempts to improve the town’.

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He added: “We support unreservedly the grounds on which the Borough Council refused the application, namely the increase in stationary or slow-moving traffic adjoining the site, the increase in litter, and the risk of aggravating the problem of obesity.”

The site is a former multi-storey car park on West Bars and would also front West Bars roundabout and Markham Road.

Planning documents say the restaurant would be a two-storey building with a drive-thru, 29 car parking spaces and occupying a 518 sq m site.

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Recommending the plans are approved, officers say: “The development is considered appropriately sited, scaled and designed such that they do not present any adverse impacts upon the amenity, character or appearance of the surrounding area.”

After September’s refusal of the original plans, Councillor Ian Callan, the council's planning committee chair, said his three main concerns were the highways impact, the creation of litter and the impact on health and wellbeing.

A spokesperson for Chesterfield Borough Council said: “The applicant has submitted an appeal against the first refusal of the planning committee meeting on September 24, 2019. The appeal is progressing in line with the standard appeals process.”

McDonald’s has been approached for comment on the latest plans.

A spokesperson for the company previously said the development would create 65 jobs and breathe new life into a piece of land which has not been in use since 2015.

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