Plans for second Keighley McDonald's branch are approved

The company has been given the go-ahead for a restaurant with drive-thru facility at the former Alexandra Mills site, in Gresley Road.

McDonald's, which already has an outlet in Hard Ings Road, says the new branch will create around 60 jobs.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore says: "The redevelopment of the Alexandra Mills site has been a long time coming and it’s great to now see real progress being made – not just with the new McDonald’s, but alongside Aldi and the soon-to-open Nando’s. These are positive steps forward for Keighley’s economy.

"The creation of new jobs is also welcome at a time when unemployment, particularly amongst young people, is rising under this Government.

"Regeneration is ultimately about getting the balance right, and we must continue to ensure developments work for the local community.

"But overall, this is a strong vote of confidence in Keighley’s future and I look forward to seeing the site continue to take shape in the months ahead."

Town mayor Councillor Chris Herd says he welcomes the investment in Keighley by a national brand.

"The new restaurant will provide employment opportunities for local people and it is more evidence that we have a large enough market to attract national brands," he adds.

"We need to continue to work to attract more inward investment that will support our high streets and continue to increase footfall in the town centre."

When proposals for the redevelopment of the Alexandra Mills site – which had been disused for years – were initially put forward, the scheme included a drive-thru café. And artists’ impressions indicated it would be a branch of Tim Hortons.

But last year, McDonald’s submitted a full planning application for a 310-square-metre restaurant on the site.

It has now been approved by Bradford Council planners.

In relation to the existing McDonald’s branch in Hard Ings Road, the application said: “Given its location on the A650 northern bypass, that restaurant primarily serves the residents of the communities to the north of Keighley – including Beechcliffe and Utley – as well as transient custom.

"McDonald’s analysis identifies that the settlement of Keighley contains a population of 53,000.

"This level of population is identified by McDonald’s as being sufficient to support two restaurants that are capable of trading well."

Approving the plans, officers said: “In terms of economic benefits, it is envisaged that 60 full-time equivalent jobs would be created onsite once the restaurant is open, in addition to those during the construction phase.

“The redeveloped site would bring about an anticipated uplift in business rates revenue and the proposal therefore would have a positive benefit to the local economy."

Bradford Council’s clean air team had raised concerns about the drive-thru element of the plans.

It said: “We would like to see the full business case to justify the need for a drive-thru facility at the proposed restaurant in this air quality sensitive locality. The planned restaurant appears to have access to ample parking provision to allow customers to park up and use the restaurant with no obvious need for a drive-thru, which would be a source of additional unnecessary exhaust emissions.”

But planners responded: “Permission for a very similar proposal exists on the site and the proposal here would not present any additional air quality issues in excess of the extant approval.”