Construction of new McDonald’s restaurant in Waterford is appealed

The recently approved construction of a new McDonald's restaurant and drive-thru in Waterford City has been appealed.

Permission was granted for the development at Waterford Retail Park earlier this month. 

The matter has now been taken up with An Bord Pleanala, following the submission of an objection from Mr. Michael Feehan.

McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland Ltd, submitted a planning application for the development to Waterford City and County Council on December 12, last year.

The development, if given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanala, will consist of a single storey drive-thru restaurant.

It will include the ancillary sale of hot food for consumption off the premises.

To facilitate the development, part of an existing car park will be reconfigured to include new pedestrian crossings.

The development was granted conditional planning permission by Waterford City & County Council recently subject to twelve conditions.

Following the submission of the planning documents, Mr. Michael Feehan objected to the development and requested that the planning authority refuse its permission to commence construction.

The appeal outlined that the development 'would negatively impact on existing restaurants and takeaways in the general area' and 'negatively impact on the vitality and viability of the city centre and districts centres drawing traffic into a facility on the periphery'.

The appeal also said that the construction of a McDonald's restaurant and drive-thru in the location would ‘fundamentally alter the nature of the retail warehouse park’ and that it is ‘a single use car based development’ which is ‘not ancillary to any of the uses on the park or providing any synergy with same.’ 

The case is due to be decided by An Bord Pleanala inspectors by July 17.

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