Burger giant urges fans to back new restaurant plans
McDonalds wants to open a new 24-hour restaurant in Devizes
Burger giant McDonald’s has urged fans of its food to back its plans for a new restaurant by writing to Wiltshire Council.
The multinational company has taken to local Facebook groups to promote a platform which will send a note of support to Wiltshire planners.
Late last month, the fast food chain announced its intention to open a 24-hour restaurant on the outskirts of Devizes.
The company said the proposal “represents a multi-million-pound investment” and is expected to create 30 full-time and 90 part-time jobs.
The proposal would see the demolition of the existing buildings on the site and the construction of a 310 sqm restaurant, of which 71 sqm would be the dining area, and 185 sqm would be the kitchen area.
A customer seating area would cater for 50 diners at a time.
There would be a 37-space car park and four motorbike spaces, and a ‘fast forward’ lane aimed at keeping traffic moving in the drive-through section.
The proposed site is located at the former Cannings Hill Garage on Horton Road, just off the A361/Horton Road Roundabout.
The petrol station closed last summer, although a used car dealership, car repair workshop, and hand car wash still operate on the site.
The triangular site is next door to The Bike School, where Aldi wants to build a new supermarket.
It also abuts Moonraker Park, a proposed industrial estate which is the subject of a pre-application consultation by developers working on behalf of Tesco.
On a public consultation website, McDonald’s said: “We have recently submitted a planning application to Wiltshire Council for a new McDonald’s Drive Thru restaurant on Horton Road, which will deliver significant investment to the local area, whilst redeveloping the site into an employment-generating facility.
“McDonald’s has long wanted to expand its offer of amazing value and high-quality British food into Devizes to address an identified demand for a new McDonald’s in the area.”
The hospitality firm proposes to “transform this underutilised site into a modern employment-generating facility that serves local residents, whilst contributing to the wider economy of the Wiltshire area.”
Its new campaign at https://mcdonaldsdevizes.whatmatterstoyou.co.uk directs visitors to a two-page web form, which will send an email of support to Wiltshire planners, and be used as part of the company’s Statement of Community Involvement in support of its application.
The planning application, which can be found at https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/ using the reference code PL/2026/03683 has already attracted 75 comments from members of the public – many of which seem to have been generated by McDonalds’ form.
Objectors are mainly concerned about the impact of noise, odour and light pollution on their homes.