Plans to 'bring back life' to former Warwick restaurant site with a McDonald's given the green light

The plans went before Warwick District Council's planning committee on Wednesday evening (September 9)
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A new McDonald’s is to open on the outskirts of Warwick in spite of more than 100 objections from residents concerned about increased traffic, litter and air pollution.

Councillors at this week’s Warwick District Council planning committee (September 9) approved plans for the fast food chain to move into the former Porridge Pot Harvester restaurant on the M40 junction which have been empty for nearly 18 months.

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Paula Reid-Smith, a senior acquisitions manager for McDonald’s, explained that the new 24-hour restaurant and drive-thru would boost the local economy, creating 65 jobs.

She said: “Given the current national situation, the economic stimulus this proposal will have cannot be downplayed when normality finally returns.

“The proposal seeks to bring back to life a former restaurant on a brownfield site in a suitable and sustainable location adjacent to the strategic road network.

"There are many benefits the proposed scheme will bring and we are excited to bring the former Harvester back to life providing a significant economic investment into the local area.”

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A number of councillors raised concerns over increased traffic particularly as the premises would be next to a busy motorway junction but planning officers explained that highways experts from both Warwickshire County Council and Highways England withdrew objections after traffic surveys were carried out and a new white line scheme was agreed, stopping vehicles from blocking the entrance.

The former Harvester site in Warwick. Photo by Google StreetviewThe former Harvester site in Warwick. Photo by Google Streetview
The former Harvester site in Warwick. Photo by Google Streetview

Cllr Oliver Jacques (Con, All Saints and Woodloes) remained unconvinced.

He said: “Highways originally objected to the scheme and then changed their position based on the design of the white lining. I’m just sceptical that painting white lines on the road is truly going to be effective in mitigating traffic build-up at that junction.”

And Cllr Tony Heath (Ind, Whitnash) was worried by the impact late night diners would have on those staying in the Holiday Inn next door.

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“It concerns me a little bit,” he admitted. “If you have residents in the hotel, the bedrooms are facing McDonald's and if you are going to have traffic going past them all night long then that could be quite a disturbance.”

The McDonald's branch next to Tesco in Emscote Road. Photo by Geoff Ousbey.The McDonald's branch next to Tesco in Emscote Road. Photo by Geoff Ousbey.
The McDonald's branch next to Tesco in Emscote Road. Photo by Geoff Ousbey.

Councillors were told that an acoustic fence would be put up between the hotel and the drive-thru and extra trees would be planted.

Gary Fisher, the council’s development services manager, added: “We did consider operating hours and whether there was a need to restrict those.

"Given the location of the site and the distance from residential properties - and I’m not including the hotel - we didn’t feel there was sufficient justification to do that.

"There is a proposal to limit delivery hours though.”

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Cllr Gary Weber (Lab, Leamington Clarendon) proposed that the plans be approved, adding: “I’ve been listening very carefully to what everyone has been saying and the concerns that the objectors raised and the concerns of councillors.

“But the bottom line is that I don’t believe we have any planning grounds for refusing this application.

"There is a thing about McDonald’s that certain people don’t like and that isn’t a planning consideration.”