Objection lodged to McDonald’s proposal for drive-through at Lakepoint

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against the Westmeath County Council decision granting permission to McDonald’s to open a drive-through restaurant at Lakepoint Retail and Business Park in Mullingar.

McDonald’s received the green light from the council on February 13 for a single storey drive-through restaurant.

The permission allowed for the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises with an associated corral area, elevational signage, car parking, grill bays, EV charging spaces and bicycle parking.

Also included were a height restrictor, customer order points with associated canopies, totem signage, free-standing signage, banner frames and digital menu boards, an ESB substation and kiosk, and landscaping including an outdoor furniture/seating area with parasols.

The objection by Ray Leonard of Manorfield, Kinnegad was lodged with An Bord Pleanála on March 11. In his appeal, Mr Leonard states he is concerned about a number of issues in relation to the development including the fact that the local development plan governing the site location was developed in 2014 and is now 11 years old and pre-dates more updated national policies including the Town Centre First policy.

He argues also that the site is zoned for commercial purposes and contends that while a restaurant or cafe is permitted in principle in such zoning, a takeaway/fast food restaurant is only “open for consideration”.

He said a previous planning permission granted in 2011 for a sit-down restaurant coffee kiosk did not make mention of takeaway facilities nor contain a drive-through. It was, he says, primarily designed to service the workers on the commercial estate, and adds that it was significantly smaller, measuring up at 185 square metres, in contrast to the current proposal of 474.80 square metres.

Mr Leonard pointed out that no particular opening hours were specified in the council decision; argues that the development is premature pending the adoption of the Mullingar Local Area Plan 2024-2030; and that while a restaurant servicing the needs of the commercial estate would be acceptable, what is involved in the McDonald’s proposal is “a car-oriented development on the edge of town approximately two kilometres from the town centre”.

This would therefore, he says, primarily function as a single trip facility aimed at car-based customers, which would negatively impact on the commercial viability and vitality of the town centre and go against the principle of town centre first.

An Bord Pleanála has until July 7 to decide the case.