A PLAN to locate a McDonald’s “drive-thru” restaurant backing on to a primary school in a residential area of Sandymount, Dublin 4, has been turned down by An Bord Pleanála.
The fast food giant had intended to locate what it described as a “flagship” store on the busy junction area at Beach Road, close to Sandymount Strand, and about halfway between the new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road and the 02 arena.
The site was formerly the Winfield Motors car showrooms and is now owned by Maxol Ltd, which operates an adjacent petrol station. Last July, Maxol had applied to Dublin City Council for planning permission to demolish the car showrooms and construct the drive-thru restaurant, which would then be operated as a McDonald’s outlet.
After more than 50 objections to the application from local residents and politicians, the council rejected the application last August on the grounds that the development was not permissible under the residential zoning of the area.
Maxol Ltd appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála, which has now upheld the council’s decision to refuse the restaurant. In its ruling the board said that a takeaway on the site would be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area. It also said the drive thru would be a traffic hazard.
Local Labour councillor and general election candidate Kevin Humpreys said the issue of the traffic which the development would generate had been of great concern locally.
“Refusing this development was just common sense. A flagship McDonald’s at such a busy junction in a residential area would be a clear breach of the zoning.”
Several local residents had also objected to the application due to concerns over the health of local children. The site backs on to St Mathew’s primary school and is also close to the Star of the Sea primary school, both of which operate healthy eating policies.
The applicants had said the “drive-thru” element would account for about 29 per cent of the restaurant’s sales and thus would be ancillary to the restaurant element. They had also estimated the restaurant would create 60 full-time and 40 part-time jobs.
