Plans have been submitted for a new McDonald’s drive-thru outlet near the M5 in Somerset, which could create more than 120 local jobs if approved.
The proposed site is located at Bridgwater Gateway, north of the A38 Taunton Road close to junction 24 of the motorway. Currently, the area includes ten business units, a Premier Inn hotel, a Lidl supermarket, and outlets operated by Costa Coffee, Domino’s Pizza, and Greggs.
The wider Bridgwater Gateway development will ultimately feature 511 new homes, with 361 recently approved by Somerset Council under revised plans by Keepmoat Homes. The remaining 150 houses will be developed by the Vistry Group. This residential expansion is within the parish of North Petherton.
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Bridgwater Gateway Ltd has now applied to construct the McDonald’s drive-thru on vacant land off Carnival Way, alongside two additional industrial units. The council is expected to reach a decision before Christmas.
The McDonald’s restaurant will be sited at the southern edge of this parcel of land, positioned between the existing Greggs outlet and the Lidl car park. Access to the site will primarily be via Carnival Way, with new pedestrian and cycle links connecting southwards to Taunton Road. These links will tie into the broader ‘green route’ outlined in Bridgwater’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
The proposed McDonald’s will feature 37 car parking spaces, in addition to two disabled bays, two electric vehicle charging points, and 18 cycle spaces. While operating hours are yet to be confirmed, they are anticipated to align with neighbouring businesses to minimise antisocial behaviour and reduce traffic during evenings and overnight.
The two new industrial units, designed to complement existing structures within Bridgwater Gateway, will be located at the north-west corner of the site. They will offer six parking spaces, eight van parking spaces, and two disabled bays.
A spokesperson for Angus Meek Architects, representing the applicant, commented:
“The proposals aim to provide accommodation for businesses within an established and sustainable employment location, maximising the potential of a vacant plot and demonstrating an efficient use of existing resources.
This scheme will provide Bridgwater with additional commercial space which it desperately needs, with units to suit a range of future occupants. This scheme will enhance economic growth within the area.
The proposal also represents a multi-million-pound investment by a national operator in McDonald’s, and the restaurant is expected to employ more than 120 full and part-time staff, whom the company seeks to recruit from the local area.”
A decision from Somerset Council on this application is expected within the next six months. It remains unclear whether the application will be considered by the planning committee north, responsible for major developments in the former Sedgemoor area, or decided through the delegated powers of planning officers.