Haverhill set to have a McDonald’s drive-through after council gives plans the go ahead

Despite concerns being raised over access, safety and traffic, final approval has been given for a drive-through McDonald’s restaurant to be built in Haverhill.

Councillors on Braintree District Council’s (BDC) planning commmittee voted unanimously in favour of the reserved matters application (the finer details such as layout, design, landscaping and access) submitted by the fast-food giant when it met on Tuesday evening.

Concerns over the impact of increased traffic, the problems posed by the creation of an access point to the restaurant off Bumpstead Road, which would be in between the Phoenix Road roundabout and the Helions Bumpstead Road junction, and the lack of a substantial pavement for pedestrians had all been raised prior to the meeting.

Both West Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council had objected to the application – which had outline planning permission dating back to 2016 – with each believing a transport assessment plan should be provided to consider the impact of the development on the highway.

This stance was not backed by Essex County Council or BDC.

Speaking at the meeting as residents of Haverhill – and not as councillors – were county councillor David Roach and town and district councillor Aaron Luccarini.

Mr Luccarini supported the application, saying: ”If you ask Haverhill residents which shops they’d like to see in Haverhill, you will often get a list that contains McDonald’s, so it’s no surprise that this application attracted thousands of combined likes and positive comments across local Facebook groups.

“The restaurant chain has tried multiple times to open in Haverhill, and this time I feel they’ve found the right site.

“Situated just off Haverhill’s bypass, opposite a hotel, away from housing estates, and surrounded by local employment land, the restaurant will be a welcome addition to Haverhill, serving residents, workers and those travelling past the town as they cross the Essex/Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border. Previously, concerns have been raised over the site entrance. In my opinion, I see very little cause for concern.

”Bumpstead Road is currently 30mph.

“The entrance is proposed to go halfway on a 170m stretch of road from the roundabout to the next junction.

“I believe this is an ideal location as it’s far enough away from other junctions to cause issue, and building up of this area will visually give drivers more to consider, in turn slowing them down.

“The alternative, as a couple of others proposed, is Phoenix Road.

“Phoenix Road is already serving eight other businesses, with six junctions along its short length.

“The road is lined with parked lorries waiting to go in to surrounding warehouses.

“Adding a further junction on Phoenix Road would be dangerous, especially with the limited visibility around parked lorries, and the many other junctions that drivers would need to take into consideration.”

Mr Roach, a resident of Bumpstead Road, said: ”I would suggest that this is not a sustainable development and wholly inappropriate in this location in terms of access.

“Whilst Braintree’s officers have recommended approval, objections from both West Suffolk Council and Suffolk Highways have been ignored. Braintree have failed to carry out either the traffic assessment or noise impact assessment requested by West Suffolk.

“The developer carried out a traffic assessment whilst there was a partial road closure due to roadworks.”

He added: “We urge Braintree to refuse this application as presented on access and safety grounds, standing objections from Suffolk Highways and West Suffolk need to be considered by you. If not at least to defer this application.

“Take time to look at the objections and to give your committee the evidence of traffic and noise assessments that should have been done and to look at the safer access from Phoenix Road.

“The original outline planning consent for access on to Bumpstead Road was for an industrial unit with around five commercial vehicle movements a day and not the hundreds that McDonalds will generate.”