A decision has been made on the expansion of the drive-thru at the McDonald’s restaurant in Bracknell.
The expansion of the drive-thru at the McDonald's restaurant in Bracknell has been officially rejected.
Located at The Keep, the McDonald's has faced ongoing issues with the clash between dine-in and drive-thru customers since it opened in 1998.
The proposed plan aimed to add a new queuing lane, but would have required cutting down two large protected willow trees. This controversial aspect led to a heated discussion among the Bracknell Forest Council's planning committee.
Catherine Chapman, director at ADL traffic and engineering, argued that the current layout is outdated, stating, “The current layout is outdated with only one order point and space for 14 drive-through vehicles. This design no longer meets modern operational standards.” She claimed the redesign would reduce off-site queuing and improve safety.
Despite Chapman’s assurances, council officers recommended refusal, doubting the new lane's effectiveness. Cllr Patrick Smith noted that traffic issues often back up onto nearby roads, questioning whether the changes would truly resolve the problem.
Cllr Tony Virgo observed chaos at the site and expressed concerns about the lack of space. He stated, “I can’t see this plan resolving that problem because there isn’t enough space on the site.”
While some councillors acknowledged the benefits of the proposal, the committee unanimously rejected the application on September 11. To view the rejected application, visit the council’s planning portal and search for reference 25/00280/FUL.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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