A Bracknell McDonald’s could see huge changes to its layout as the fast food giant has submitted plans to the council.
McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd wants to change the access, car park and drive thru operations at its store at The Keep, Widlridings.
The existing exit would be changed to become the access point, and the current access road would be closed.
Dedicated courier parking would also be introduced.
It also wants to extend the restaurant for more storage and an additional collection point.
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The applicant says this site has seen a lack of modern facilities, with ‘outdated’ IT systems and kitchen processes.
Changes have been difficult to implement due to the proximity of the store to areas of trees and the highways.
Six trees under a Tree Protection Order would need to be felled to achieve the proposed layout, with two requiring more minor works.
Replacement trees would be planted at different points of the site to make up for the loss of the six existing.
Other plans submitted by the fast-food chain are for new advertising signage.
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This would be the classic yellow ‘golden arch’ design, while three of the freestanding signs would be relocated.
A new freestanding sign and one banner sign would also be put in place on the site.
Plans submitted to Bracknell Forest Council say a side-by-side drive-thru lane would ‘reduce the time taken to process customers through the facility and therefore assists in effectively managing the length of the queue’.
Currently, staff members stand in the drive-thru lane with handheld remote order terminals to ‘try and negate the issues with circulation’.
A total of 40 car parking spaces would be provided, with two accessible bays and two grill bays.
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Three motorbike spaces and six cycle spaces would also be provided.
A transport statement submitted with plans says this number is suitable to cope with peak demand, which reaches 39 spaces.
But space in for the dining area is reducing by around 20 square metres due to the introduction of an indoor play area.
A consultation with hundreds of members of the public received 58 per cent in support and 24 per cent in support with reservations.
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McDonald’s says it contributed £2.89 million to the economy in Bracknell Forest, with 189 people employed. More members of staff would be taken on with the expansion of the Wildridings site.
The fast food giant runs another store in the Lexicon Shopping Centre, and is ‘actively reviewing’ the area for an additional store.
Plans have been validated by Bracknell Forest Council, and a decision is yet to be made.
