Plans have been submitted to build a McDonald’s restaurant with a drive-thru on a busy car park in the heart of Shepton Mallet, Somerset.
The proposed site is located within the Haskins Retail Centre, just off the A371 Townsend. This retail area features a large car park situated behind key local businesses including the police station, Greggs, and Subway.
McDonald’s Restaurant Ltd. aims to construct the new outlet at the western end of the car park. This development would involve reconfiguring the remaining parking spaces to create safer access routes into the site. Currently, the car park provides 318 spaces, but under the plans this would reduce to 256.
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To improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety, a new mini-roundabout is proposed for the retail centre’s entrance at the eastern end of the car park. Additionally, northern parking spaces will be rearranged to enhance pedestrian pathways within the area.
The restaurant is designed to operate daily from 6am until midnight and is expected to generate up to 120 local jobs, boosting employment opportunities in the town.
Furthermore, the existing car showroom located just south of the proposed McDonald’s site is slated for conversion into two units. These could bring approximately 30 additional jobs, depending on which businesses eventually occupy them.
A spokesperson for Planware Ltd., acting on behalf of McDonald’s, commented:
“The restaurant will provide 50 covers for visitors to dine in a relaxed, modern environment. The dining area will feature a variety of seating types and table sizes to accommodate customers' needs. The proposals address a long-standing demand for a McDonald’s restaurant in this catchment area, responding to customer demand and offering more choice locally.
This development represents a multi-million-pound investment that will create jobs during both construction and operation phases, delivering significant economic benefits to the local community. The site is well-suited for a drive-thru restaurant, offering refreshments to passing motorists and residents alike.”
Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the planning application by Christmas, within the next six months. It remains unclear whether the decision will be made publicly by the council’s planning committee east, which oversees major applications in the former Mendip district, or by planning officers under delegated powers.
If approved, construction could commence by mid-2027, with the restaurant targeting an opening in 2028.