Mousehold litter worries over McDonald's Sprowston appeal

Plans were submitted in January 2022 for the fast food giant to build what would be an 11th restaurant in the city, at the former Richard Nash car dealership in Mousehold Lane, Sprowston.

Norwich City Council's planning committee voted against the scheme in September 2022 by the narrowest of margins though - six votes to five - despite having been recommended for approval by planning officers.

The proposed development site for the restaurant would be in Mousehold Lane, at the former Richard Nash car dealership (Image: Norwich City Council)

However, the decision has been taken out of their hands after McDonald's lodged an appeal against the refusal.

It means that the fate of the proposals will rest with the Planning Inspectorate – a government department that oversees planning decisions in England.

Folk living nearby, who were part of the nearly 250-strong petition - Sprowston's Not Lovin' It - against the development, are concerned.

Neil Stockham, who lives in the area, said: "Until they manage its waste effectively it's unreasonable to have another McDonald's there.

The boundary of where the McDonald's would go, should the appeal be successful (Image: Norwich City Council)

"It will sit right near Mousehold as well which is a valuable resource to people.

"I like to go there for a walk or run and I'm worried it will cause the woods to be covered in rubbish as well.

"You can probably figure out how long it'll take for someone to throw their wrappers away if they're not near a bin.

"I also wonder whether it's necessary to have another McDonald's - there are a number of them not so far from Sprowston - so who are they catering for?"

Dani Ifergan said The traffic situation will be worrying as well as the smell of junk food 24 hours a day (Image: Dani Ifergan)

Mike Sands, who is vice chairman of the city council's planning committee and voted for the development, said: "It was finely balanced during the initial meeting and only lost by the narrowest of margins.

"I'm not really surprised that McDonald's has appealed the decision.

"It's a big company invested in doing something with the site and they feel it's a viable area to build upon."

Gary Champion, Green Party councillor for Sewell Ward (Image: Submitted)

Gary Champion, who voted against the application, said: "Drive throughs encourage reliance on cars, and as our city already has 10 McDonald's, it hardly seems necessary. 

"The residents i have spoken to on this matter agree with the decision made by the planning committee and it is unfortunate that this matter is now going to be decided again by planning inspectorate and disregard our decision."

Natasha Harpley, district councillor for Sprowston, who opposed the scheme, said: "I was pleased the committee voted against the application and my position has not changed.

The appeal means the decision is now with the Planning Inspectorate, a government department (Image: Norwich City Council)

"McDonald's is, of course, entitled to appeal but there is a lot of opposition to the site and I stand with my community on this matter."

Dani Ifergan, who lives nearby to the proposed site, added: "The amount of rubbish, especially in Mousehold which is a beautiful spot of Norwich will not be right.

"The traffic situation will be worrying, as well as the smell of junk food 24 hours a day - so I'm very much against the idea of it.

"I'm extremely worried about what our beloved Mousehold will look like, especially in summer when people will buy their meal, eat it on the grassy area and leave their rubbish behind.

In September 2022 the planning committee refused the application, six votes to five (Image: Norwich City Council)

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"Me and my kids quite often take a bin bag with us on our walks and fill it up easily already.

"Not to mention the smell, close proximity to schools and traffic - it's just so wrong."

What the planning committee decided

Plans for the McDonald's in Sprowston were decided in September last year.

Two consultations were carried out over the plans, with one attracting 40 objections, plus a petition signed by 244 people. In comparison, 33 people supported the plan.

The re-consultation saw five objections and no letters of support.

Issues raised included in the individual letters of representation were 24/7 opening, adverse impacts on health, well-being and quality of life for residents, air pollution from idling engines of queuing vehicles and inadequate litter picking and the negative impact on flora, fauna and geological features of Mousehold Heath.

Should the appeal be successful, it would be the 11th McDonald's restaurant in Norwich (Image: Norwich City Council)

READ MORE: Norwich police arrest in connection with Mousehold robbery

Recommendations for the application included having a travel plan, a construction management plan including measures to manage traffic, ecological and amenity impacts and a detailed litter management plan.

Following the amendments and subject to various conditions, the Highway Authority had no objections.

However, members of City Hall’s planning committee voted against the scheme by six votes to five.

Mike Sands, vice chairman of the Norwich City Planning Committee (Image: Norfolk Labour Party)