A Surrey town is to get a new McDonald’s at the site of a former charity shop after a council planning committee narrowly approved plans for the restaurant.
The fast food giant as had its plans for a new branch in Caterham approved but councillors have slapped on extra conditions. The American chain is hoping to settle into a new home in a former charity shop in the Quadrant House shopping centre in Croydon Road.
The controversial application split local opinion, with over 200 letters sent both in favour and against. After a lengthy debate, members voted in favour, 6 to 4, of bringing McDonald’s to the town at a Tandridge District Council planning meeting on January 9.
Speaking on behalf of McDonald’s, Charlie Browns said the application “represents an exciting opportunity to reutilise retail units and create new jobs for local people”. It is hoped the development will bring an additional 120 jobs to the site – 30 full-time employees and 90 part-time.
Andrew Brown, Chairman of Caterham’s Business Improvement District (BID), supported the development, saying it will “directly benefit the high street retail stores” and boost the local economy. He said the increased footfall on the high street is the equivalent of Caterham holding a major event every day.
Although Surrey Highways highlighted some issues and attached conditions, the local authority did not object and said the fast food chain was proposed at a suitable location on a high street. Councillors ultimately agreed that without an official Highway authority objection, it could be forced to undergo a lengthy and expensive appeal process.
Councillors raised concerns about the number of mopeds accessing the McDonald’s for deliveries. Highways Officer James told the committee if mopeds and bikes started inappropriately parking on the pavement outside McDonald’s, then enforcement action could be taken.
Planning documents showed around 80 per cent of the store would be used for a kitchen and back office, with only 60 places for people to eat, leading some members to claim the site will be mostly used for takeaway and deliveries.
Cllr Alun Jones challenged whether McDonald’s would stick to its proposed delivery radius of 1.5 miles when other takeaway services stretch further. Cllr Jones said: “The volume of deliveries on this is going to be significant and the impact on amenity of local residents is going to be huge.”
Conditions were later added to the application so that no deliveries would be allowed outside 7am-10pm every day, and waste collection would be up until 4pm Monday-Saturday.
Antisocial behaviour was flagged as a major worry by residents and councillors with examples of incidents in Redhill. To address concerns, CCTV inside and outside the restaurant was also added as a condition
Public speaker Martin Redman said the new development, open 16 hours a day, is “not nice, not necessary and not Caterham”. He added that potentially mischievous young people “hanging around” would “put off residents coming into Caterham for a coffee and a shop”.
Councillors debated whether it was enough for Caterham Police station to be nearby as antisocial behaviour still persists throughout the town. Cllr Bryan Black acknowledged McDonald’s had a 85-page report on antisocial behaviour but said it showed the company “finds a way to deal with it”.