Plans to open a McDonald’s on the site of a former Travelodge are set to be approved for the second time this year – despite concerns over increased traffic.
The fast-food giant first tabled plans in 2023 to open a restaurant at the A2 London-bound Gate Services at Dunkirk, between Faversham and Canterbury.
How the McDonald’s at Dunkirk, between Faversham and Canterbury, could look. Picture: McDonald’s
The project was approved by Swale Borough Council (SBC) in May but a Section 106 agreement was not completed, meaning the permission was never officially signed off.
SBC was then made aware of a last-minute submission to its planning portal concerning the impact of the development on the dual carriageway.
The two-page-long traffic report – written by transport planning consultancy Railton TPC and paid for by a local resident – was not considered by the planning committee in May as it was submitted too late.
Committee members are now being given the opportunity to discuss the proposal again in light of that additional information, but the scheme is expected to be green-lit for the second time next week as planning officers have recommended the plan is approved.
In the traffic report – written by Bruce Bamber of Railton TPC – it is claimed approval of the 24-hour drive-thru could make it “possible the vast majority of trips would be new to this section of the A2”.
The proposed McDonald’s site off the A2
A transport assessment by McDonald’s suggests, at most, 29% of trips made on the A2 on a Friday or Saturday would be new to the road network.
But Mr Bamber argued that what had been claimed as existing trips – people not travelling solely to use the drive-thru – by McDonald’s “could also be new to the local network, having diverted from elsewhere”.
This led him to argue “up to an additional 79% of trips on Friday and 68% on Saturday could be new to the site and new to this section of the A2”.
He did not provide any evidence for his logic, but said this meant Kent County Council (KCC) and National Highways could have been misinformed when deciding not to object to the project.
Upon learning Mr Bamber’s report had been sent in prior to the meeting beginning, and with no formal decision being made due to the Section 106 sign-off, SBC felt it was appropriate to withhold issuing a decision notice.
Section 106 agreements are arrangements between developers and the council that are negotiated as part of a condition of planning permission.
The Travelodge at Gate Services, Dunkirk, closed in May 2023, and has since been demolished
“In these very specific circumstances, it is considered appropriate for the planning committee to be given opportunity to consider the application in light of that additional information,” said SBC planning chiefs.
In response to Mr Bamber’s report, McDonald’s chiefs wrote: “The comments submitted have been reviewed, but there is no reason why the conclusions reached by National Highways or KCC are not appropriate or correct.
“There is no justifiable reason for any highways objection to the planning application.
“If a motorist travelling eastbound required food, then the Morrisons and takeaways in Canterbury incur either a shorter or very similar journey while continuing in the direction of intended travel.
“It is concluded that National Highways’ interpretation of the data is entirely correct.”
KCC’s Sarah-Jayne Ellcock further supported the original paperwork, saying: “The [McDonald’s-led] review suggests a 6.98km round trip for vehicles diverting via Upper Harbledown and Dunkirk to return eastbound.
“There is no justifiable reason for any highways objection to the planning application…”
“However, I have measured this route myself and found it to be closer to 9km, making such a diversion even less likely.
“This supports the applicant’s position that the likelihood of significant new trips being generated in this manner is low.”
A planning committee meeting is due to be held on Thursday, December 4, where the proposals will be discussed once again.
They have been recommended for approval, subject to the same conditions agreed in May.
Previously, 10 members of the panel voted in favour of the scheme with four votes against it.
If given the green light as expected, the 79-seater eatery will also act as a drive-thru for motorists, neighbouring a Costa drive-thru that opened last year.
McDonald’s bosses originally hoped to be open by 2025, and say it will create 30 full-time and 90 part-time jobs.
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The disused Travelodge hotel it will replace was knocked down in late 2023, with the land currently vacant and blocked off to the public.
In total, 37 parking spaces – four of which would provide EV charging facilities – would be provided in addition to two disability bays and four motorcycle spots.
Opponents previously said there is “no need” for a McDonald’s in the area, but the company says the project would allow it to meet a “long-standing requirement” for a restaurant in the area.
