In recent years, McDonald’s has become less successful at winning appeals and often now withdraws from an appeal before it is heard, does not appeal at all or withdraws the original planning application in the face of strong local opposition. See the following examples.

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 99/06/21

APP/K3605/A/98/1013162/P

ADDRESS: Hinchley Wood PH, Manor Rd, Hinchley Wood

AUTHORITY: Elmbridge

Drive thru on A3 site-access and increased traffic detrimental to pedestrian safety and residential amenity-proposed carriageway box marking scheme undesirable-McDs traffic forecasts understated/residents concerns higher traffic flows found merit.

APPEAL DISMISSED

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 01/09

ADDRESS: Heads of Valley Rd, Abergavenny

AUTHORITY: Monmouthshire

Fast food restaurant edge of town-damage to town centre viability/pedestrian safety.

APPEAL DISMISSED

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 01/10

ADDRESS: White Blackbird PH, Loudwater

AUTHORITY: High Wycombe

Drive-thru restaurant on A3 site-Increased traffic/congestion/noise/rowdiness/signage out of keeping/residential amenity.

APPEAL WITHDRAWN

APPLICANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 01/04

ADDRESS: Heath Garage, Beaulieu Rd

AUTHORITY: New Forest

Drive-thru restaurant on motor workshop site-Increased traffic/congestion/noise/contradicts local plan/inadequate road capacity/residential amenity/litter-traffic detrimental to Forest animals-council refused.

NO APPEAL

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 99/11

ADDRESS: Hungry Horse PH, Shaftesbury Circle

AUTHORITY: Harrow

Drive-round car park on A3 site-Increased traffic/congestion/pedestrian safety/exit by bus stop/local school amenity.

APPEAL WITHDRAWN

APPLICANT: Greene King

REF/DATE: 00/07

ADDRESS: Molly Maguires PH, Harrow Weald

AUTHORITY: Harrow

Drive-round car park on A3 site-Site being prepared for sale to McDonald’s/increased traffic/congestion/pedestrian safety/detrimental to bus operations.

APPLICATION WITHDRAWN

APPLICANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 00/05

ADDRESS: Texaco garage, Little Missenden

AUTHORITY: Little Missenden

Drive-thru to quiet side road restaurant inc. purchase of Texaco site-increased traffic/traffic blackspot/council recommend refuse.

APPLICATION WITHDRAWN

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 98/03/27

ADDRESS: Bath Rd, Slough

AUTHORITY: Slough

Extension to restaurant seating area, 40% increase-highway safety/traffic flows/McDs traffic projections underestimated.

APPEAL DISMISSED

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 99/03/24

APP/R0335/A/98/1013122

R0335/H/98/1845

R0335/H/98/1844

ADDRESS: The Keep PH, Wildrings Rd

AUTHORITY: Bracknell

4 schemes for lighting, signage and advertisements; a) plant, lighting in car park and refuse enclosure-in keeping with area-no amenity problem, Allowed, b) pole sign – out of character of area, Dismissed, c) wall and roof signs, no amenity harm, Allowed, d) internally illuminated signs, no amenity harm, Allowed.

SPLIT DECISION

APPLICANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 98/11

ADDRESS: The Keep PH, Wildrings Rd

AUTHORITY: Bracknell

Drive-thru restaurant on A3 site-noise/pollution/residential amenity/increased traffic/detrimental to wildlife in adjacent park-council refused.

NO APPEAL

APPLICANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 97/07

ADDRESS: Priory Rd/Alexandra Palace

AUTHORITY: Haringey

Drive-thru restaurant – increased traffic/litter/contrary to local plan.

APPLICATION WITHDRAWN

APPELLANT: Norfolk House Group plc

REF/DATE: 89/01/12

ADDRESS: Jcn A40/B4063, Golden Valley roundabout

AUTHORITY: Cheltenham

Drive thru McDs service restaurant/filling stn-haulage depot site-green belt/A40(T)-no strategic need for devt/existing use not eyesore-reduction of fragile gap/would cause congestion at roundabout.

APPEAL DISMISSED

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 91/07/18

ADDRESS: Tollgate Retail Park, Stanway

AUTHORITY: Colchester

Adverts and roof light beans at drive thru restaurant/take-away-modern retail park-important to retain cohesive advertising displays/too aggressive-only internally illuminated signs allowed.

SPLIT DECISION

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 92/05/29

ADDRESS: Mile End Rd/Cambridge heath Rd, E1

AUTHORITY: Tower Hamlets

Restaurant with drive thru facility-internal illuminated logos & conservation area consent for demolition of building-issues-street picture/conservation area/setting of listed almshouses.

APPEAL DISMISSED

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 94/04/14

ADDRESS: 583-385 Woolwich Rd, SE7

AUTHORITY: Greenwich

Drive thru restaurant/take away-site on main road 2km from town centre-allocation for B1 or B2 industry-would prejudice employment development of adjacent land.

APPEAL DISMISSED

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 94/08/24

ADDRESS: 197/201 Narborough Rd

AUTHORITY: Leicester

Drive-thru restaurant-within shopping centre-redevelopment in emerging plan-filling stn site-A3 concentration alleged but substantial difference-would complement present A1 & stimulate trade-but evening activity/traffic disturbance/fumes/amenity loss to adjacent residents conservation area-traffic congestion hazard.

APPEAL DISMISSED

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 97/02/05

ADDRESS: jcn 31, M6, Nr Preston

AUTHORITY: South Ribble

Drive thru restaurant (250sqm) at motorway jcn island site in green belt-inappropriate development-claimed A59 realignment had incorporated, proposed site within existing development-still open land-would consolidate/extend built development-harm green belt openness-no need/extant parking places nearby.

APPEAL DISMISSED

APPELLANT: Moorfield Estates

REF/DATE: 97/07/29

ADDRESS: North Quay Retail Park, Peto Way, Lowestoft

AUTHORITY: Waveney

2 952 sqm retail units & 232sqm drive thru restaurant at retail park on edge of coastal town-prejudicial to vitality/viability of proposed retail devt close town centre.

APPEAL DISMISSED

McDonald’s used to win most of their appeals – particularly when local objectors fought on the grounds of litter, noise and smells. These concerns tend to be mitigated by ‘conditions’ and the appeal is then allowed. See the following examples.

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 85/08/01

ADDRESS: 336 Wilmslow Rd, Fallowfield

AUTHORITY: Manchester

Fast food rest/drive thru-filling stn/garage site with parking places for fast food restaurant-shopping centre fringe-noise/hours/amenity issues-little additional harm from drive thru facility than extant-ok with screening/8-23.00 hours/litter bins/smell mitigation condition.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 87/07/08

ADDRESS: 865-873 High Rd, Leytonstone

AUTHORITY: WALTHAM FOREST

Fast food restaurant/drive thru-site former department store-effect on town centre/future pedestrianisation/traffic generation issues-centre at ‘low ebb’-would assist vitality.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 87/10/06

ADDRESS: 869-875 St Albans Rd, Garston

AUTHORITY: Watford

Fast food restaurant/drive thru-residential area-some noise but other nearby restaurant and ambient noise from N.Orbital Rd/ok if 2300 closing-no tail back onto highway likely-litter a general problem.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 88/10/26

ADDRESS: Cannon Cinema, Bristol Rd

AUTHORITY: Birmingham

McDs drive thru city approach-former cinema/landmark site-parking places for restaurant only-street scene/scale/design issues-local authority notes std design applied-2300 closing applied-objections not compelling although no costs award for design objection contrary to ministerial advice.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 89/10/13

ADDRESS: Jcn Westmorland Way & Forum Way, Cramlington

AUTHORITY: Blyth Valley

Drive thru restaurant-fringe centre-consideration of alternative sites rejected-no antisocial behaviour likely-no serious litter/smell problems/no loss residential amenity-could attract trade to town-2300 closure required.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 90/11/22

ADDRESS: Preston New Rd/Cherry Tree Road North, Blackpool

AUTHORITY: Blackpool

Restaurant Class A3/drive-thru-ex industrial site in mixed use area-external noise insufficient to reject/little additional congestion-parking adequate/no coaches would use-jobs benefit.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 91/10/08

ADDRESS: York Rd, Killingbeck

AUTHORITY: Leeds

Drive thru restaurant (Class A3)-in curtilage of ASDA superstore-issues-highway safety/adequacy of parking-parking space standards argument.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: M Swanwick & Co

REF/DATE: 91/10/25

ADDRESS: Various sites, Stratford Rd, Shirley

AUTHORITY: Solihull

3 sites same road-office developments one with drive thru restaurant-from residential/adjacent shopping centre-emerging UDP-outside office allocation area/piecemeal redevelopment creating amenity loss/highway improvements premature-restaurant would harm residential amenity by noise/signs.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 92/06/16

ADDRESS: A355 Shirley Rd, Southampton

AUTHORITY: Southampton

Restaurant with drive-thru facilities-redevelopment of industrial sites/parking places for retail warehouse-new access-does not prejudice future development of adjacent land-no harm to residential amenity from noise/antisocial behaviour/disturbance-0700-2300 hours condition.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 94/04/29

ADDRESS: Hope and Anchor OH, Twickenham Rd, Hanworth

AUTHORITY: Hounslow

Fast food drive thru/take away/restaurant-redevelopment of pub on busy roundabout in mixed community residential area-no loss of community facility-no more loss of residential amenity than authorised pub use-no increase in traffic/pedestrian hazard.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 95/01/09

ADDRESS: Jcn Bromsgrov Rd & Vine Ln, Halesowe

AUTHORITY: Dudley

Drive thru restaurant-noise measurements & disturbance from forecourt discussed-high ambient/acceptable with an acoustic barrier-pedestrian safety/traffic congestion ok with new signalling on gyratory system-possible rowdyism matter for public order-job gain-hours condition.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 95/07/28

ADDRESS: Crawley Ave, West Green

AUTHORITY: Crawley

Drive thru hot food take away in car park of supermarket/DIY in mixed suburban area-loss of parking ok-little loss of residential amenity due to noise/traffic generation.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: Lanham Devts Doncaster

REF/DATE: 95/12/19

ADDRESS: Jcn York Rd/Sprotsborough Rd

AUTHORITY: Doncaster

Retail warehouse/drive thru hot food take away (tot 1835 sqm)-car sales land by existing out of centre retail park-no impact harm on town centre-no harm to residential amenity-NRA objection that site in flood relief channel rejected/footprint less than existing.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: Central&Provincial/Gowring

REF/DATE: 96/02/02

ADDRESS: Jcn Greenham Rd & Queens Rd

AUTHORITY: Newbury

2 nonfood (2090 sqm) drive thru-filling stn site-500m/edge of centre, separated by busy A34(T)-highway issue-CC&H agency ok but authority overrides-congestion/premature to new bypass alleged-but only modest increased traffic generated/agreement for roundabout & close existing accesses-delay unjustified.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 96/04/11

ADDRESS: 3 Horseshoes PH, Marsh Rd

AUTHORITY: Luton

Drive thru hot food take away redevelopment of former pub in mainly residential area of town-adequate servicing/parking space-no conflict/hazard if delivery hours restricted by condition.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 97/03/03

ADDRESS: Milngavie Rd, Bearsden

AUTHORITY: E. Dunbartonshire

Condition-hrs of restaurant/drive thru-disputed condition requires closure at 2300 for 1 year trial period-this condition not reasonable/not necessary/relevant in terms of conditions circular tests-permanent limitation to 2300 hours given to protect residential amenity.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: BR Properties

REF/DATE: 97/03/11

ADDRESS: Gushetfaulds & Crown St, Cathcart Rd

AUTHORITY: Glasgow

Mixed retail/leisure/business/industrial development; call in for non food retail units/2 drive thrus/PFS site; former good yard & car showroom complex/site; factory site-both out of centre-aid to regeneration-public transport ok-need-traffic generation ok.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 97/05/08

ADDRESS: Wakes Rd/Bull Head St, Wigston

AUTHORITY: Oadby & Wigston

Drive thru restaurant-edge of centre site (100-350m walking distance)-seq test satisfied-sustainable-60 jobs created-no exacerbation of traffic conditions-antisocial behaviour/litter not planning matters-smell/lighting problems controlled by conditions.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: Oakgate Group&Others

REF/DATE: 97/06/27

ADDRESS: Jockey Lane/Julia Avenue, Monks Cross

AUTHORITY: York

Pub/restaurant; Pub/drive-thru-vacant site in mixed city edge area-industrial land loss alleged but slow take-up/overprovision-only identified in nonstatutory list-small scale-para 1.16/PPG6 more relevant than seq test-accessibility/public transport ok-multi-purpose trips.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: Total Oil GB Ltd

REF/DATE: 97/07/09

ADDRESS: Brighton Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea

AUTHORITY: Adur

Filling stn redevelopment inc shop & A3-edge residential area-set back on site 430 sqm bldg from previous 940 sqm-new vehicle circulation/queuing noise & disturbance for drive thru issue-rowdyism unlikely with hrs condition-plexiglass ‘soundstop’ acoustic screen would reduce noise/headlight glare.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: Fulcrum Property

REF/DATE: 97/08/07

ADDRESS: Turton/Kay/Waterloo Sts

AUTHORITY: Bolton

8 non food retail units/garden centre/2 diners (1 drive thru)-19110sqm gross in all-edge centre-loss employment land only issue-physical and economic regeneration benefits outweigh immediate loss.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: Bayford Devts

REF/DATE: 97/09/25

ADDRESS: Thorne Rd

AUTHORITY: Doncaster

Call in 1265 sqm foodstore/1233sqm non food stores/drive thru hot food take away on 1.5ha on edge of town-no harm due to loss of industrial land-no harm to vitality/viability of nearby shopping centres-good public transport access.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 98/02/18

ADDRESS: West Wellow service Area, A36, Ower

AUTHORITY: New Forest

Extension * additional parking to McDs drive thru at filling stn-no intrusion into rural area/NFHA-no residential amenity harm-would ease present congestion.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 98/02/12

ADDRESS: Nightingale Rd, Hitchin

AUTHORITY: N Hersfordshire

Drive thru-part of railway sidings site allocation as whole for nonfood park-ok/useful ancillary service-not prem to res realloc-small part of site-highway safety ok-activity/noise/disturb/litter ok with hrs & bin provision conditions-rowdysim unlikely.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 98/03/02

ADDRESS: 170 The Broadway, Southall

AUTHORITY: Ealing

Fast food/drive thru-vacant site-not authority preferred but appropriate development in Southall strat centre/no firm alternative proposals-evening economic/regeneration benefit-employment gain-walk to/linked trips/air quality/min increased traffic generation: sustainable development-design ok/listed church setting enhanced-hrs.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 98/03/20

ADDRESS: Sewardstone Rd, Chingford

AUTHORITY: Waltham Forest

Drive-thru lane at fast food restaurant-non stat accessibility policy-increased traffic generation no affect-right turn traffic hazard/pedestrian safety ok with wks-no increased emissions risk-doubt would meet PPG6 if new building, but minor conflict/highway works. Gains outweigh.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 98/05/13

T/APP/P5870/A/97/287750/P7

ADDRESS: London Rd, North Cheam

AUTHORITY: Sutton

Fast food outlet-free standing drive thru at filling station site-within suburban retail area-conditions would mitigate noise/amenity harm-agreement to provide CCTV would reduce anti-social behaviour risk-litter problem not significant-PPG13 re increased car journeys ok.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 98/05/27

ADDRESS: 336-370 Wandsworth Rd, Clapham

AUTHORITY: Lambeth

Drive thru restaurant-inner urban area-redevelopment filling stn/lock up garages-sustainable-would not cause traffic congestion-noise/disturb ok given high ambient levels-setting listed buildings would be improved-highly suitable location.

Appeal Allowed

APPELLANT: McDonald’s

REF/DATE: 00/02/04

APP/W5780/A/99/1034104

ADDRESS: High Rd, Seven Kings

AUTHORITY: Redbridge

Drive thru restaurant on supermarket car park site-highway safety/congestion increased traffic within capacity of road-sustainable, multi-purpose trips- no local policy to discourage car borne traffic in suburban town centres-noise/disturb/litter ok.

Appeal Allowed