Greens are welcoming a planning officer’s recommendation to refuse a new McDonald’s near Lowfield Primary School.
Next Tuesday (22nd July) Sheffield City Council’s Planning Committee will make a decision whether to grant planning permission to McDonald’s for a drive-thru on London Road.
The application has attracted hundreds of comments, including from Green Party members. Green activists organised a protest at the proposed McDonald’s site in April to raise awareness of the plans to nearby residents.
Planning officers have now advised councillors on the committee to reject the application.
Green Councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow Ward, Maroof Raouf, said:
“As a resident of the Lowfield area, I welcome Sheffield City Council’s decision to recommend a refusal of the planning application for a new drive-thru McDonalds on London Road.
“This development would be just a short walk from several schools and youth centres, including Lowfield School, which has one of the worst levels of air quality in the city. In a community already facing high levels of deprivation and health inequality, adding another fast-food outlet would only make things worse. I trust the Planning Committee will make the right call next week in protecting our children’s health and our neighbourhood’s wellbeing.
“The proposed site is surrounded by independent businesses that are vital to the character and economy of this area. Allowing a global chain like McDonald’s to open here would draw customers away from these small, family-run shops, making it harder for them to survive. Increased traffic, noise, and litter will also add to the strain on local infrastructure and make life harder for families, especially those living on Chippinghouse Road. We must protect local livelihoods and the identity of this part of Sheffield.
“Local people deserve more, they deserve better. This recommendation shows that the voices of those who turned out to protest against the application matter. Depending on the final decision next week, this is a strong step toward building a healthier, safer, and more community-focused area of Sheffield.”
Local resident and protest organiser, Lynsay Angell, added:
“I am delighted that we raised awareness of this McDonald’s application. The community showed us how much they care about the place they live and that a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant has no place next to a primary school.”
