WELSHPOOL will be getting a McDonald’s after the fast food giant was given the green light to build a restaurant on the edge of town.

Powys County Council has granted full planning permission to McDonald’s Ltd to build a restaurant with drive-thru facility, car parking, customer order displays and all associated works, on land next to the Buttington Cross Enterprise Park, near the livestock market.

It is anticipated the arrival of McDonald’s will provide employment for 65 people, both full-time and part-time, and there will be 26 car parking spaces created at the site.

When submitting the application last autumn, a spokesman for McDonald’s said: “The site represents an appropriate location for a drive-through restaurant, which will be well placed to offer refreshments to passing customers and those in the surrounding area.”

A supporting statement submitted with the application added: “The proposed site contains the characteristics to run a successful drive thru facility without affecting the vitality and viability of the town centre, the proposed development would include joint trips to the surrounding commercial and wider area, rather than additional trips, thus complying with policy.

“McDonald’s freestanding restaurants ideally operate 24 hours per day and seven days per week, although there is some flexibility where specific amenity issues dictate otherwise. The peak periods are usually lunchtimes, followed by evenings and breakfasts. “

The decision to grant the application was a delegated one by Gwilym Davies, the council’s head of property, planning and public protection.

The decision marks the latest landmark moment in the development of the area around the Buttington Cross Roundabout.

It comes just weeks after another significant application has been submitted for that part of Welshpool, close to the Buttington roundabout which links the A483 and A458.

Mark Schweiger of KIM Property Investments Ltd submitted an application last month for a 63-bed hotel and drive-thru coffee shop on land near the roundabout on Moors Farm.

Powys County Council planners will decide on that application at a later date.