McDonald’s wins through in Dinnington

Rotherham’s planning board has greenlit a restaurant and drive-thru, going against officer recommendation to refuse on policy grounds.

Ahead of the planning board meeting on Thursday 18 July, officers had recommended the committee reject the application due to the site being allocated for employment use.

Most elements of the application had been well received, with officers also noting that Rotherham has no shortage of employment sites and that remediation challenges may have played a part in the Campbell Way site not finding a taker, despite being marketed for industrial uses since 2015. Refusal was still recommended.

However, Rotherham’s planning board ultimately disagreed. Following representation in support from local McDonald’s franchisee Franco Ventura and ward councillor Amanda Clarke, board members voted unanimously to approve the application, which the group said will bring 100 jobs to the site.

Planner Lichfields, AMA and Glanville are on the professional team.

Senior acquisitions surveyor at McDonald’s, Annie Newman, said: “A pre-application consultation showed strong support for a McDonald’s restaurant in this location. This was reflected in the comments that local people sent to the council backing the application.

“It is a frustration that a McDonald’s Restaurant and Drive Thru is not recognised as an employment use, despite creating significantly more jobs that many developments which would be. I am delighted that the planning board recognised this and approved our application.

“I look forward to our restaurant opening and bringing our internationally-recognisable brand and menu to Dinnington.”