Updated 14 April – essentially a response from the planning department at MVDC to online comments and an anonymous – and possibly therefore invalid – online petition started this month.
“Further to the comments received on this matter, Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) hopes the following information will provide some helpful context:
On 7 March 2024, because there was no planning policy reason to reject the application, MVDC granted permission for a change in the use of 9 – 17 Church Street, Leatherhead. This means the space can now be used for commercial, business and service use and/or a hot food takeaway.
It is important to note that the planning system does not control the occupiers of buildings, only the broad use, and MVDC’s decision doesn’t single out any specific business. Instead, it permits the establishment of any hot food take away and it is for the owner of the unit to choose the tenant.”
One of the ward councillors for Leatherhead South Bridget Kendrick also commented :
….I share concerns with many residents, ‘As with the Church Street unit being taken by McDonald’s the only additional planning consent is if takeaway is added to a food and beverage business use, plus signs and shopfront. No permission is needed for a shop to become a restaurant. Councils have very limited powers to prevent a unit being taken by a particular business that has agreed terms with a commercial landlord. MVDC does have some influence over leases within the Swan Centre as its owner’.
I do know that some retailers, i.e. gaming, have been refused where MVDC is the owner, but that is not the case here. I will be working with residents and fellow councillors to ensure litter, anti -social behaviour, delivery vehicles and how a positive contribution to our town can be made.”
5 April 2024
Details of the actual signage and shopfront for Leatherhead McDonalds in Church Street are now available through the planning system.
Unit 1 understood to be under offer for another food and beverage business after the upstairs residential conversion is completed- pic from Hague landlord website
https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/125462
https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/125461 a parallel application now listed : Alterations to shopfront to include replacement doors and glazing with additional access formed and associated works. (including floorplans https://planningapi.agileapplications.co.uk//api/application/document/MOLE/1857053 )
This is a routine application similar to those in recent years for signage for Taco Bell, KFC and before that Waitrose. It is not an opportunity to object to a McDonald’s as that is not now something the planning system can control. All commercial premises have the same planning use class (E) and no consent is required for a shop or bank to become a restaurant (or vice versa)
As we reported in March and November https://newleatherheadliving.wordpress.com/2024/03/08/9-17-church-street-leatherhead-planning-application-approved/ There was an earlier application by the Church Street landlord Hague Investments in late 2023 to add takeaway to the existing commercial use. This was approved with agreed opening hours and was described as broadening their options for use by potential tenants.
The takeaway approval and anticipated signage approval are routine planning issues and do not mean that MVDC planning department or its councillors has actively encouraged McDonald’s to open (or could have blocked it) as it is basically a landlord and tenant matter with light touch approvals for details rather than a decision on change of use as the planning system has been deregulated by successive Governments . As with KFC and Waitrose. It is not part of the Transform Leatherhead or the Leret Partnership joint venture with Kier Property. MVDC does not own the building.
Similar smaller McDonalds are also understood to be opening in several other town centres including Caterham where like Leatherhead the nearest McDonalds is in the M25 services and cannot be used for delivery of orders made online or collection. Wallington and Worcester Park also. And of course nearby Epsom has had a High Street branch many years as have Walton on Thames and Surbiton.
Leatherhead Living 