Fast food chain McDonalds says Keighley is a big enough town to support a second drive-thru restaurant, after submitting a planning application for a new one.
It would be built on a vacant former industrial site on Gresley Road, next to the town's new Aldi supermarket.
Plans to redevelop the former Alexandra Mills site in Keighley Town Centre were approved several years ago - Aldi opened earlier this year – but the land earmarked for the drive thru has yet to be developed.
The new planning application by McDonalds is for a 310 square metre restaurant with a drive thru facility.
There is already a McDonalds in Keighley – off Hard Ings Road - and the application says that branch will remain despite the planned new restaurant.
Referring to the existing McDonalds, the application says:
“Given its location on the A650 northern bypass, the restaurant primarily serves the residents of the communities to the north of Keighley (including Beechcliffe and Utley) as well as transient custom.
“McDonald’s analysis identifies that the settlement of Keighley contains a population of 53,000. This level of population is identified by McDonald’s as being sufficient to support two restaurants that are capable of trading well.
“Furthermore, the distance from the nearest restaurant is sufficient to support a commercially attractive location. The site will provide a more convenient location for residents of the communities to the east and south of Keighley and for people visiting the Town Centre.”
The application says the development would create 60 full time equivalent jobs and bring in £48,200 in business rates a year.
The application lists several existing sites in the town that could possibly be used for a new McDonalds, including the town’s former courthouse, the vacant Buzz Bingo building and the former Beales department store. The locations are dismissed as being unsuitable as they would be unable to accommodate a drive thru.
Another possible location listed is the temporary green space on North Street – the former site of Keighley College. That location is dismissed due to long standing plans to build a health hub on the site.
The application says:
“It is understood that the (health hub) proposals are currently being reviewed in light of inflation and interest rate increases and as a result it is likely there will be changes to the previously proposed plans and timescales for the development coming forward. However, it is understood that the site is not available.”
A decision on the application for Gresley Road is expected in November.
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