Council grants permission for new McDonald’s branch

By Connor Steel

GOSPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL have confirmed that they have formally approved the change of use for the currently vacant Burtons clothing shop in the High Street; which is set to become a branch of McDonald’s as the ‘hugely famous’ fast food chain were granted permission to start work on converting the 1930s style building into a fresh restaurant site.

These proposals were unveiled early in May and covered this empty shops’s ground floor space at 111-112 High Street which will be turned into a 48-seat restaurant equipped with take-away facilities. New signage sets were then proposed such as a “Golden Arch” applied to the windows, and a white acrylic “McDonald’s” mounted on fascia over its entrance.

Access for customers and couriers would be provided from the High Street according to the planning documents whilst visitors would use nearby car parks / cycle stands when visiting and 2 motorcycle spots to the rear on Coates Road for couriers. A total of thirty full time and 90 part time jobs would be created for this site, the equivalent of 62 full time roles.

Supporters of the restaurant expressed that it would promote footfall and provide crucial support to local businesses or branches on the High Street; whilst many felt the Brockhurst Gate store was too far away for some residents. However concerns were raised about a potential increase in anti-social behaviour, loitering and littering around the Town Centre.

The decision notice stated that these concerns would be a police matter and further questions of unhealthy eating was not a ‘planning policy matter’ that would be considered. It did however state that the store would be shut from midnight to 6am every night with no take-aways or any deliveries to be dispatched / received from the site during this timeframe.

Next steps are unclear, but it is expected that the conversion will begin in due course; this new restaurant replacing the one at 57-59 High Street after nearly six years and becoming the second chain in Gosport. It further joins the branches across this region including the two in Fareham, Cosham, Fratton, Port Solent, Portsmouth, Havant, and also Whiteley.

Readers may examine documentation for the first planning application by visiting Gosport Borough Council’s “planning portal” and looking at reference: 24/00139/FULL. The second for ‘signage plans’ can also be seen via 24/00145/ADVT.

PICTURED BY ALAMY (2PN0K2X): McDonald’s will be returning to Gosport Town Centre as the plans were approved.