McDonald's withdraws plans for new restaurant

Sheffield already has seven McDonald's restaurants

McDonald's has withdrawn its application for a new restaurant in Sheffield.

The fast food giant had wanted to open another franchise on land adjacent to London Road and Broadfield Road in the Lowfield area.

Sheffield City Council received 270 objections to the proposals, citing the proximity to other McDonald's restaurants, traffic concerns and the impact on children's health.

A total of 31 people submitted comments in support of the plans, which McDonald's said would have created 120 jobs. The company declined to comment.

Planning officers recommended councillors reject the plans.

Officers said the proposal was within "easy walking distance of schools and locations where young people congregate", adding: "There is evidence that a concentration of similar uses is having an adverse impact on health in the locality".

They went on to say: "Given the well-established links between obesity, unhealthy food choice and deprivation, and the proximity to places where young people would congregate, the proposal would not promote healthy eating and would likely exacerbate existing health inequalities within the surrounding catchment area."

McDonald's had proposed building the drive-thru restaurant on currently unoccupied land, albeit next to the busy A61 road also known as London Road.

Last year, the council completed a programme of roadworks at the junction near to the site to ease traffic congestion.

McDonald's claimed the level of new traffic created by the development would be "modest and unlikely to have a material impact".

However, officers said the restaurant would be "entirely" reliant on access from the A61 and criticised a lack of safe access for pedestrians and cyclists.

They also said the proposals could cause "significant harm" to nearby homes on Chippinghouse Road.

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