Major plans for new McDonald's drive-thru for Cradley Heath

A council’s planners have said a move to demolish a motorbike showroom in Cradley Heath for a new McDonald’s drive-thru should be approved. 

Fast food giant McDonald’s wants to replace the Cradley Kawasaki showroom and workshop in St Anne’s Road, Cradley Heath, with a new restaurant and drive-thru. 

Sandwell Council’s planning committee meets on July 29 to decide on the work with a recommendation from officers that the work should be approved. 

A total of 54 objections were made against the plans and a 92-signature petition was also submitted opposing the new McDonald’s. 

The objections said the new drive-thru restaurant would bring more noise, traffic and congestion and litter as well as create anti-social behaviour problems. 

However, the council’s planners also received 19 responses supporting the drive-thru saying it would create jobs and regenerate the area. 

The new drive-thru would create 70 full-time jobs.

The proposed opening hours are 6am to midnight and the plans also include a waiting area for delivery drivers and a 30-space car park.

In a report outlining the recommendation, the council’s planners said: “The site is allocated for residential development within the current adopted development plan … and the proposals would conflict with […] policy. 

“This would prevent the site coming forward for residential use, to the detriment of meeting identified needs, and exacerbating a shortfall. 

“Furthermore, the proposal is contrary to emerging policy provision, which designates the site for employment use, and would exacerbate an identified shortfall of employment land.

“However, the proposal overcomes all other material considerations, and its harm would be limited by its restricted opening hours. 

“The economic investment and job creation outweighs the policy contraventions noted above and the development is acceptable subject to suitably worded conditions.”

The planning application said the lack of progress in building homes since 2012 was “symptomatic of the site’s lack of viability for such a use” and was no longer deemed financially viable. 

“It is important to note that sustained efforts have been made by the vendor to bring the site forward for residential development in line with the adopted allocation,” a statement included with the application said.  

“The site has been actively marketed for a residential use for in excess of 12 months, however, no meaningful interest has been received.”