By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
Plans for a new McDonald’s restaurant near Nottinghamshire’s Ikea store have been given the go-ahead despite some people living nearby saying it will worsen heavy traffic in the area.
The operator of Giltbrook Retail Park, British Land, submitted an application for the new takeaway outlet to be built in the space in August 2024.
Broxtowe Borough Council approved plans for the new unit on Ikea Way, Giltbrook, near Eastwood yesterday (December 19).
The new unit will sit next to existing restaurant chain outlets Nando’s and Pizza Express and will require car park alterations to be made to accommodate it.
The area of car park mainly serves Decathlon, Next and the two existing restaurants- there will be a loss of 30 parking spaces.
Planning documents point out the car park is busy over weekends and bank holidays but a 2023 survey showed 75 per cent of its capacity is used during peak times between midday and 1pm- the car park would still have spare capacity after the loss.
Back in August, nearby residents expressed their concern over the proposed plans, with many concerned over potential extra traffic.
One Facebook user, posting in a residential group, said: “We really don’t need more traffic blocking the island. It’s bad enough now.”
Another wrote: “There needs to be direct access to and from A610 before building a [McDonald’s], to relieve the pressure of the additional cars that the business will create.”
Others expressed hope the new unit will create new jobs for people.
Introducing the takeaway giant to the retail park could see 55 full-time roles and 80 jobs overall being made.
Around 155 full-time construction workers will be needed to build the restaurant.
McDonald’s already has more than 1,450 restaurants in the UK and Ireland, employing around 180,000 staff.
The plans were accepted by Broxtowe Borough Council subject to its planning conditions.
