By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
Plans for a new McDonald’s restaurant on a Nottinghamshire retail park have been submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council.
British Land, the operator of Giltbrook Retail Park, home to Nottingham’s Ikea superstore, submitted the application for the unit to be situated on Ikea Way, next to the existing restaurant chains Nando’s and Pizza Express.
The site is located between Eastwood and Kimberley, neither of which have a McDonald’s restaurant.
The US fast food chain has more than 1,450 restaurants in the UK and Ireland, employing around 180,000 people.
The plans show changes to part of the existing car park, that mainly serves units occupied by Decathlon, Next and the two restaurants, would need to be made to make room for the unit, meaning there would be a loss of 30 parking spaces.
While the car park is busy over weekends and bank holidays, a survey from the start of 2023 showed 75 per cent of its capacity was used during the peak times between midday and 1pm, meaning there would still be spare capacity after the loss.
The new development could see the creation of 55 full-time roles and 80 roles overall, with around 155 full-time construction workers being needed.
Some residents near the retail park have expressed concern over the new proposal, particularly around increased congestion.
One Facebook user posted in a residential group: “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 are hopeful about the new jobs that will become available for people, particularly youths, in the area.
One person wrote: “Trying to get in and out of that retail park some days can be terrible but all for more jobs for folks …need some better in and out routes if it’s possible.”
According to planning documents, the restaurant would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will not have a drive-thru lane.
Broxtowe Borough Council will decide the application at a later date.