Birmingham Airport McDonald’s Drive Thru Approved by Planners
McDonald’s has received approval to build a drive-thru at Birmingham Airport, despite traffic concerns raised by local planners.
Birmingham, UK, McDonald’s, Drive-Thru, Airport, Traffic
Birmingham: So, guess what? McDonald’s just got the thumbs up to set up a drive-thru at Birmingham Airport! It’s a bit of a mixed bag, though, since some folks are worried about traffic jams.
The whole thing started back in September when McDonald’s put in their application for the drive-thru at Car Park 6. They even shared some cool designs showing off the restaurant and its outdoor seating area.
But not everyone was on board. During the consultation, seven objections popped up, mainly about traffic issues since this spot is the only way into the airport staff parking. Bickenhill Parish Council was also concerned, fearing it might turn into a “car cruising” hangout.
At a recent Solihull Council meeting, Councillor Jane Lamden raised a good point about delivery drivers causing parking chaos. She mentioned how it’s already a hassle at the McDonald’s in Chemsley Wood.
The planning officer assured everyone that there would be a parking management strategy in place. Councillor Mark Wilson also chimed in, worried that the new drive-thru would make the already busy roads around the airport even worse.
But the officer said most of the customers would be airport users, so it shouldn’t add too much traffic. Plus, the highways officers didn’t raise any red flags about congestion or safety.
In the end, the application was approved with a vote of five to three. McDonald’s said this new spot would create a bunch of jobs—185 during construction and 75 full-time once it opens.
The restaurant will be pretty spacious at 309 square meters, decked out in those classic McDonald’s colors. Customers can choose to eat in or grab their food from the drive-thru. The meeting took place at the Civic Suite in Solihull on January 8.