THIS morning, Monday, September 30, infrastructure began to arrive ahead of the building of the 24-hour Crediton McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru on land at Joseph Locke Way, next to Mole Avon Country Stores.

Infrastructure has begun to arrive for the McDonald’s Crediton site. AQ 4406
Infrastructure has begun to arrive for the McDonald’s Crediton site. AQ 4406 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Harris fencing has arrived for the McDonald’s Crediton site. AQ 4402
Harris fencing has arrived for the McDonald’s Crediton site. AQ 4402 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Fencing to surround the site and a portable office were delivered, which gives hope that the building of the store will soon begin.

Once the construction site has been safely fenced, it is expected that groundworks equipment and diggers will arrive.

A portable office has arrived for the Crediton McDonald’s site. AQ 4409
A portable office has arrived for the Crediton McDonald’s site. AQ 4409 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) planners, who met on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 approved plans for the Crediton McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru all voting in favour with just one abstention.

CONDITIONS

The application was approved with a number of conditions, which included:

1) A financial contribution of £35,281 to be allocated and spent towards measures necessary to assist with the flow of traffic through the Western Gateway, St Lawrence Green and the High Street in Crediton and for the provision of two additional electric vehicle charging points above the two required by Policy making four in total to address air quality within the Crediton Air Quality Management Area.

The Crediton McDonald’s site. Image: McDonald’s planning documents.
The Crediton McDonald’s site. Image: McDonald’s planning documents. (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

2) A financial contribution of £15,000 toward the Shop Front Enhancement scheme. The shop front/business enhancement scheme is specifically targeted at SME businesses preparing and serving food: (Use classes E(a), E(b) and sui generis) that are situated within the Crediton Town centre boundary.

3) To secure the funding of £5,000 for Devon County Council for double yellow lines through the TRO process and to secure the land on the Eastern Side of Joseph Locke Way, North of the junction to the proposed entrance to provide for a cycle/footway to the junction.”

Where the McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru will be built. AQ 3261
Where the McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru will be built. AQ 3261 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The road beside Mole Avon, which is where the access to the McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru would be located. AQ 3263
The road beside Mole Avon, which is where the access to the McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru would be located. AQ 3263 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

SEATING FOR 76

There will be a total of 76 covers for visitors to eat their meals.

The proposal includes 36 car parking spaces, inclusive of provision for two accessible bays, two grill bays and four electric vehicle charging bays (one being an accessible bay).

There will be five Sheffield customer bike stands, for an overall provision of 10 cycle spaces.

120 JOBS

The supporting statement outlines that this proposal represents a multi-million-pound investment by a national operator in Crediton and the restaurant is expected to employ more than 120 full and part-time staff, which McDonald’s seeks to recruit from the local area.

There were more than 111 letters of representation, 45 letters of which were of objection, one letter of general comment and 65 were letters of support.

Letters of representation can be viewed in full on the council’s website: www.middevon.gov.uk .

The grounds of objection, and in favour, can be viewed within the supporting documents.

Where the Crediton McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru will be built.
Where the Crediton McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru will be built. (McDonald's planning documents)

Negotiations took place between the council officers with the applicant, David Shawyer, the franchise holder for restaurants in Exeter and also at Tiverton.

Mr Shawyer said he had worked hard with the council officers and made amendments to the application to make it the best it could be for the Crediton area.

Amendments included changing the access to the site to benefit neighbours (Mole Avon), reducing the height of signage, enhancing landscaping and including local materials to the building.

He spoke of the career pathway for McDonald’s staff and outlined that about 50 per cent are part-time staff to help local people.

Mr Shawyer spoke of waste sustainability and litter picking and responsibly disposing of waste and keeping areas clean and tidy.

He said he actively seeks out opportunities to help local communities.

Following the submission of final documents and agreements being signed between McDonald’s, Tesco, Mid Devon District Council and Devon County Council, following several time extensions, the full planning permission was approved on September 13, 2024.

McDonald’s must begin the building of the store within three years of September 13, 2024.

Works must take place between 8am and 9pm, with no works on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Some other documentations will need to be submitted to the planning authority, particularly in relation to trees, planting and landscaping.

A crossing is expected to be built between the McDonald’s restaurant and the Tesco side of the road in Joseph Locke Way.