High Peak council gives the go-ahead for a McDonald’s restaurant and drive-through near Buxton town centre

High Peak Borough Council’s Development Control Committee has approved McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd’s planning application to demolish the existing Aldi supermarket at Station Road, Buxton, and to build a restaurant at the site with a drive-through lane facility, 53-space car parking, a cycle store, and landscaping on 0.6 hectares of land.

A council spokesman stated: “The supporting statement accompanying the submission highlights that the proposed scheme represents a multi-million-pound investment by a national operator in Buxton and will provide over 62 full-time equivalent jobs for the community.”

The single-storey restaurant – which will be opposite the Spring Gardens shopping centre and car park.- was approved at a meeting on Monday, October 23, but concerns were raised from some of the public and some councillors about health implications, the possible noise and carbon footprint from idling car engines, and the possibility of attracting ‘boy-racers’.

A total of 81 objections from the public were considered by the council and these included worries that the scheme is too large and it will have a negative impact on people’s health and the environment, and that it could attract and encourage anti-social behaviour.

Other concerns included the risk of taking trade away from other businesses and that it will increase traffic along a busy road, and it may increase noise and litter, and that a McDonald’s restaurant in a spa town would be an incongruous, eyesore.

One worried objector, Robert Parker, who used to be a McDonald’s area manager, told the committee meeting at The Pavilion Gardens, in Buxton: “In my book hypocrisy is a big deal and if you approve this application today I’ll struggle to call it anything else.

“On another day, you’ll talk about healthy eating – you’ll say eat less sugar, fat and salt to avoid obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

“On another day, you’ll talk about the environment – you’ll say we need to re-use, recycle and reduce to help reach net-zero targets.

“And yet, most McDonald’s products contain way more sugar, saturated fat and salt than we need.

“And on the environment, the bags and boxes McDonald’s use for their products – and produce all the litter we see – have an active and useful life from a few seconds to a few minutes at most.”

Mr Parker also argued that even though McDonald’s may operate a litter-picking policy within a 200 metre circumference of its restaurants, litter from a drive-through will be spread further away.

Cllr Jean Todd raised concerns that a building was to be demolished and that the new restaurant may create litter and some eating, health worries.

And Cllr Charlotte Farrell also said she was concerned about idling cars at the drive-through producing harmful exhaust fumes.

Cllr Paul Hardy said the restaurant may also produce noise pollution and Cllr Adrian Hopkisnon said he was worried the restaurant drive-through may attract ‘boy-racers’ in cars.

The council also received 633 comments supporting the scheme although 566 of these were identical and stated the plans would provide a closer McDonald’s for the town, create jobs and would represent a significant investment in the area.

Other positive remarks included ensuring that a brownfield site would not remain unoccupied and that the scheme would fit ‘perfectly’ with the town’s overall transformation plans.

An agent, speaking on behalf of McDonald’s told the meeting that litter-picks will take place from the restaurant, that the site will be powered by renewable and solar energy, and that the restaurant’s produce will be sourced from the UK and Ireland.

The existing Aldi supermarket is relocating to the edge of town, according to the council, with the redevelopment of the site for the drive-through McDonalds restaurant with 377 square metres of internal space, about 76 seats and a takeaway service with a possible outdoor seating area.

The drive-through lane would be entered along the building’s northern boundary, then run along the eastern boundary next to Charles Street with a wall before extending around the south of the building on Station Road where it will be further screened by the proposed wall.

A council officer confirmed that the local authority has secured a design agreement so the new building will reflect the area, and the highways and parking arrangements are acceptable, and it is regarded as a sustainable development that will fit in with the council’s Local Plan.

High Peak Borough Council’s Development Control Committee voted to approve the McDonald’s planning application for a restaurant and drive-through with a condition that the opening hours be restricted to between 6am and midnight, instead of the proposed 24-hour drive through service.

The council is still waiting to hear back from some consultees but it has stated that it is not expecting any objections, and should there be any concerns these would be addressed at a delegated committee meeting at a later date.