McDonald's plans new drive-thru booth and storage expansion at Sunderland branch

Sunderland City Council has received planning applications for the North Moor Road McDonald’s in the Silksworth ward.

Plans include refurbishing the restaurant with extensions to allow for additional storage to the freezer and chiller areas and changes to the drive-thru.

A planned “fast forward lane” will allow for customers to pull forward to another collection booth to ease traffic flow through the drive-thru lane.

Plans also include a new “drive-thru signage suite”.

This week, Mcdonalds announced it would close dine-in seating areas at its UK restaurants in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement posted on its Twitter page, the fast food giant said the move was prompted by “recent updates from the UK and Irish governments”.

Currently, customers can access takeaway services, drive-thru facilities or use delivery apps to get food and drinks to their door.

A decision on works to the Silksworth McDonald’s is expected in the coming months.

Planners will prepare a report for councillors looking at all aspects of the plans and their impact, and made a recommendation to a development control committee.

Sunderland City Council is expected to suspend non-essential council meetings during the coronavirus crisis, so it is not yet clear when the plans will come to committee.

Comments can be made by writing to the council before Wednesday, April 8.

For more information, visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/online-applications and search planning ref: 20/00493/FUL