A new Burger King drive-through in Morecambe could now get the go-ahead after council planning officers backed the idea.
Lancaster City Council's planning team recommended that an amended plan to convert the former Frankie and Benny's into a takeaway restaurant run by the global burger chain Burger King, should be given planning permission.
Earlier this year, they said it should be turned down due to fears over 'inadequate capacity for vehicles'.
But a new council report, published today, says: "The previous proposal has been amended and now includes designated pedestrian routes from Hilmore Way/Morrisons and Central Drive into the application site.
"This is supported as it ensures good pedestrian connectivity and promotion of linked trips. The site is located adjacent to bus stops and the railway station, and with cycle parking and EV charging spaces proposed, the proposal is therefore considered acceptable in terms of promoting sustainable transport methods."
The council's planning committee, made up of a group of elected councillors, is expected to make a final decision on planning permission, at a meeting on Monday June 19.
The premises on Hilmore Way was originally built in the mid-1990s as a drive-through Burger King takeaway until Italian-American restaurant chain Frankie & Benny's took over the site in 2008, removing the drive-through.
They vacated the site in 2020 and the building has been closed ever since.
Representatives of Burger King had asked for a 'change of use' on the building to restore the drive-through, demolish extensions to the premises and install new windows.
In March, a council planning report said the proposal failed "to provide adequate capacity for vehicles queuing to use the proposed drive through".
Read more: New Burger King in Morecambe gets thumbs down from planners - Beyond Radio
Burger King withdrew the proposal before it was due to be heard by the Lancaster City Council planning committee that month.
Read more: Burger King withdraws plans for drive-through in Morecambe - Beyond Radio
The company then came up with amended plans for the former Frankie and Benny's.
The new council report said: "The application site has been empty and deteriorating for some time. The proposal would see the unit re-used, bringing it back into an active economic generating use and improving the visual condition of the building.
"The scheme is considered to be acceptable in terms of highways, pedestrian connectivity, noise, odour, and litter management issues. Accordingly, the proposal is compliant with the relevant local and national policies and is recommended for approval.
"There are proposals by Lancashire County Council and Sustrans to upgrade cycle routes in the local area, including widening the pavements on Central Drive. Having reviewed the proposed plans, whilst there are two slithers of landscaping area that overlap with the proposed cycle route upgrades, there is no overlap between built development. Therefore, the implementation of a drive through use would not hamper any planned future upgrades to the cycle network. It is understood that all the land would remain in the City Council’s ownership, and any parts required for the cycle upgrades could be removed from Burger King’s lease."
Burger King has a restaurant in Morecambe town centre, next to the Arndale.
In October 2022, the chain also opened a new restaurant in Lancaster city centre (see photo below).
Read more: Burger King opens in Lancaster city centre - Beyond Radio
The Lancaster City Council planning regulatory committee meeting will be held at 10.30am on June 19 at Morecambe Town Hall. It is open to the public.
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