Plans for Burger King drive-thru in Chester refused

A proposal was lodged by the owners of the retail park to erect the new unit, which would have been occupied by the fast food giant, on an area of land currently used as a car park.

However, a full planning application – submitted almost a year ago – has today (October 7) been refused by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Both the local authority's highways and public health departments had objected to the plans, while one public representation was made opposing the scheme over highways safety concerns.

In a report recommending refusal, council case officer Edward Shepherd said: "This application relates to an area of land currently used as a car park, within the Greyhound Retail Park.

"The units immediately to the east of the site include ScS, Subway, Home Bargains and Lidl. A service road runs to the south of the proposed building, providing access to the rear of the aforementioned retail units.

The proposed site plan for the Burger King drive-thru at Chester's Greyhound Retail Park (pic: planning application).

"This proposal seeks planning permission to erect a single storey drive through/restaurant. The unit would be occupied by Burger King.

"Amended plans have been received through the course of the application with the site plan now proposing to direct traffic though the existing car park and along the front of the retail units, with customers driving across the service lane and into the drive through.

"A central island and signage would be installed on the service road, adjacent to the drive through entrance, to restrict cars driving straight up the service road and turning right."

He concludes: "In this instance, whilst the principle of this use would be acceptable in relation to the visual, biodiversity and flood risks present in the area. The proposal would fail to take every reasonable opportunity to promote and positively contribute to the health of the borough.

"The location in relation to the amount of other fast-food takeaways in the immediate area and wider demographic characteristics mean that the development would have a significant adverse impact on public health and would give rise to a significant adverse effect on health and wellbeing.

The area of land at Chester's Greyhound Retail Park where a new drive-thru was proposed. (Google Street View).

"The impacts mean that the development would fail to contribute to the principle of sustainable development and would have an unacceptable adverse impact on the amenities of residents living nearby.

"It is further considered that the proposal has failed to ensure that satisfactory arrangements can be made to accommodate the additional traffic before the development is brought into use and that the additional traffic can be accommodated safely and satisfactorily within the existing highway network.

"The layout would be convoluted and result in cars waiting for the drive through blocking or restricting vehicles movements within the site. This will give rise to unsafe movements and harm the quality of parking making it less convenient and unsafe."