A planning application which could see a McDonald’s drive-through restaurant built in St Ives has been submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council.

Lodged by The Abbey Group (Cambridgeshire) Limited, plans propose to erect a single building for use of the restaurant and its drive-through, at the Stocks Bridge site just off Harrison Way.

Another building with the same set-up is also planned for a Costa Coffee, as well as a third space for a Subway store, with an additional yet-to-be-agreed tenant sharing the building.

It’s hoped the development will create more than 100 jobs in the area, and, according to proposals, already has plenty of support from a recent town survey.

“Whilst the survey was informal it did confirm that, of the members of the public who were willing to be interviewed, 70% were in favour of the proposal with support also being voiced to the proposed location being out of the town centre,” the planning assessment noted.

“A total of 60 per cent of those who were interviewed stated that they would use the proposed facilities either on a ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ basis.”

The assessment added that the creation of jobs will not only bring additional revenue to the town, but also that “unsustainable” trips to existing drive-through restaurants elsewhere will be reduced.

The site, which is currently used as a paddock area, is measured at 1.15 hectares and is expected to mirror The Abbey Group’s existing development at the Caxton Gibbet services on the A428.

It’s also due to sit opposite another proposed build off Harrison Way – a Morrison’s supermarket with a non-food retail unit.

“The approved Morrison’s store stands at 12.7m high, with the petrol filling station being about 4.3m high,” it noted.

“The proposed development - at a maximum of 5.8 metres high - would be under half the height of the approved Morrison’s store.”

As well as new buildings, the site hopes to include a new 1.8 metre wide footpath for pedestrian access and 20 parking spaces for cyclists.

The assessment concluded: “In our view the principle of the development is fully acceptable given that there are no sequentially preferable sites, the impacts upon the town centre are positive and given the strong economic benefits arising from the proposal with at least 103 jobs being created.

“The proposal also seemingly enjoys local support. In light of this the proposal should be approved unless there are significant adverse impacts arising from other planning policy considerations.”

To view the plans, visit huntingdonshire.gov.uk.