Plans for new McDonalds near Amazon warehouse in Swindon off the table
Difficulties for pedestrians and cyclists were among some of the reasons why the plans were refused
Difficulties for pedestrians and cyclists and the potential of cutting through the historic (and perhaps future) route of the Wilts & Berks Canal have meant plans for a new McDonald’s restaurant and Starbucks coffee shop are off the table.
Planners at Swindon Borough Council have turned down a proposal put forward by developer Fortitudo (125) Ltd on behalf of the huge restaurant chain on a cleared site near the massive Amazon warehouse and Iceland site, south of the A420 and west of Laines Way in Gablecross.
The plans submitted would have seen the McDonald’s restaurant at the north of the site, with an outdoor seating area.
Starbucks would have been sited nearer the entrance to the site off Laines Way further south, with a drive-through facility, as well as parking for those who would want to eat or drink inside.
There would also be a commercial development towards the south west of the site.
In its application, Fortitudo made much of the location of the site, and the nearby custom: “The site is strategically located with the entirety of Symmetry Park area, along with the Wiltshire Police Headquarters, Marston Farm, the employment developments at South Marston, Margarets Retail Park, Sainsbury’s store and the residential area of Coleview adjacent to White Hart Roundabout.”
It said it would bring additional employment to the area and would also serve the residents of houses in the New Eastern Villages expansion immediately to the south of the area.
But Swindon Borough Council planners were not impressed by significant aspects of the proposals.
In the report outlining reasons for refusal of the plan the council said: “The proposal fails to demonstrate acceptable pedestrian and cycling connectivity within the development and to adjacent sites, which include the mixed-use district centre allocation of the New Eastern Villages.
“The proposal would therefore fail to achieve a suitable level of accessibility and connectivity.
“It would bisect the historic route of the Wilks & Berks Canal and as such fails to demonstrate how the proposed scheme would facilitate the canal’s recreational and natural conservation potential, in particular the use of the old line of the canal for walking, cycling and interpretation.”
Officers also thought the design of the building was poor and not in fitting with the wider area.