Bingley WILL get new McDonald's after planning decision overturned
Claims that the new branch, on the former police station site on Bradford Road, would cause traffic congestion and parking chaos in the town were dismissed by a Planning Inspector
FAST food giant McDonalds will be allowed to build a new drive thru in Bingley after Bradford Council’s decision to refuse the plans were overturned by a Government planning inspector.
Claims that the new branch, on the former police station site on Bradford Road, would cause traffic congestion and parking chaos in the town were dismissed by Planning Inspector J Smith following a public hearing earlier this month.
His findings, which have just been published, also argue that it would be unfair to refuse the plans to “restrict competition” for existing food businesses and cafes in the town.
And he argued that although “McDonalds food can reasonably be described as inherently unhealthy, the decision to purchase food from this establishment is a matter of individual consumer choice.”
The planning application for the new McDonalds was refused by Bradford Council’s Planning Panel in September.
Planning and highways officers had recommended the plans be approved, arguing there was no planning reason to block the development.
But members voted against officers’ recommendations and voted to refuse the plans.
Panel member Councillor Paul Sullivan (Cons, Bingley) described planners’ suggestion that the application should be approved as “appalling” and also raised concerns the McDonalds could lead to obesity among Bingley schoolchildren.
But, prophetically, planners argued that any refusal would be difficult to defend at an appeal.
Members voted to refuse the application, and then paused the meeting so they could decide on the reasons for refusal.
These ended up being highways concerns and a lack of adequate parking.
McDonalds decided to appeal the decision and at the appeal hearing earlier this month Mr Smith heard from objectors to the plans, Council officers and representatives from the company.
He also made three site visits at different times throughout the day.
The decision report refers to a claim by Bingley Town Council that the site does not fall within the town centre, and so would be an unsuitable location for a hot food takeaway.
Mr Smith says: “This site is also located along a main arterial route which serves Bingley. At the crossroads next to the appeal site, large commercial properties, including a supermarket to the opposite side of Main Street, are visible. The appeal site is located in the middle of these commercial areas, which is visibly and easily accessible from it. As such, my assessment leads me to the conclusion that the site functions as part of the town centre.”
Referring to traffic congestion concerns he said: “I conducted three separate site visits at different times of the day. On each occasion, traffic along Bradford Road was not notably congested, including during the visit undertaken around local school finishing times.”
He concluded that the 24 parking spaces provided by the restaurant would be adequate, and there would be no major issues caused by the loss of 15 on street parking spaces on Bradford Road – one of the consequences of the development.
As well as addressing the official reasons for refusal, the appeal decision also refers to the concerns raised by the 500+ people who objected to the plans.
Referring to the concerns that the restaurant would lead to people eating unhealthy food, the decision says: “I am content with the suggestion that McDonalds food can reasonably be described as inherently unhealthy, despite the presence of ‘healthy’ options available on a McDonalds menu.
“Nevertheless, the planning system is not responsible for regulating the nutritional content of food itself.
“Given the town centre location, there is no basis to dismiss the appeal on health‑related grounds. Ultimately, the decision to purchase food from this establishment is a matter of individual consumer choice.
“Concerns have also been raised that the development would harm local businesses by introducing unfair competition and reducing their income.
“However, I have been given very little evidence to support this claim.
“Local independent businesses are indeed an important asset to any town, contributing to its distinctiveness and character.
“The appellant considers Bingley to be a viable market for this enterprise. Whether residents choose to patronise the proposed development or continue to support existing local businesses is ultimately a matter of personal choice.
“It is not the role of the planning system to manage or restrict competition, nor to intervene in local economic conditions to ensure that particular businesses thrive. Competition is not a valid planning reason to refuse permission.
“There have also been expressions of support for the proposal. Interested parties in support have referenced that the proposed development would lead to an increase in jobs, an increase in expenditure in Bingley, would utilise a previously developed site within a town centre and general charitable work the brand undertakes in local areas around their restaurants. While I have found no harm or policy conflict in relation to the main issues of this appeal, these wider benefits add further weight in favour of the proposal.”