Plans for second McDonald's in town centre approved

A town is to get its second McDonald's restaurant despite concerns from the "clean air team" of the council which approved the plans.

Bradford Council gave the fast food giant permission to open a new site in Keighley last week and the outlet will create 60 new jobs.

However, officers cautioned that the drive-thru part of the branch could create "unnecessary exhaust emissions".

The new McDonald's will be located at Gresley Road in the town centre as part of the redevelopment of the former Alexandra Mills, the local authority confirmed.

There is already a branch on Hard Ings Road, but the new application said: "Given its location on the A650 northern bypass, that restaurant primarily serves the residents of the communities to the north of Keighley, including Beechcliffe and Utley, as well as transient custom."

The documents added that with Keighley's population of 53,000, there were enough people for two McDonald's outlets to "trade well".

There were also only four objections to the plan, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Approving the plans, officers said: "The redeveloped site would bring about an anticipated uplift in business rates revenue and the proposal therefore would have a positive benefit to the local economy.

"The impact the development will have on the local economy is welcomed."

The clean air team argued that the ample parking at the location meant a drive-thru was not needed, but planners ruled that it would present any further air quality issues.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.