Concerns about busy junction near McDonald's Sprowston site

As revealed by this newspaper yesterday, the fast food giant has won its planning battle with Norwich City Council to replace Richard Nash Cars in Sprowston.

The Planning Inspectorate this week overturned the December 2022 decision of the council's planning committee to deny permission for the development, which had attracted a wave of opposition.

McDonald's can now proceed with its plans for the Mousehold Lane site, to become its 10th store in the city, but the concerns of some neighbours remain.

Vijya Odedra, who has lived opposite the site since 2002, said: "Every week it seems like there's an accident near the junction, crossing and the garage - it's dangerous.

"I'm worried that with the increased traffic this will only get worse.

Vijya Odedra, who lives opposite the site, said it seems like there's an accident every week at the junction (Image: Newsquest)

"I also worry about the amount of children coming home from school and what impact that will have.

"It should have never been given permission to be developed."

The road has a 40mph speed limit and a crossing with traffic lights near the junction for Corbet Avenue, with filter lanes in the middle of the road.

On May 13 the Planning Inspectorate reversed the Norwich City Council's decision to refuse the new McDonald's in Mousehold (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

Stephen Clayton, who has lived in Mousehold Lane for 23 years, added: "We didn't want it here.

"There's accidents near, or on, the crossing constantly - crashing into the lights or the barrier - so the increase in traffic McDonald's will bring is worrying.

"Having it between two major schools is a concern - everyone talks about eating healthier but then we get another fast food place.

"The price of everyone's property will be affected too because no one wants to live in a garbage bin."

People living near the site are concerned about the increase in traffic causing more accidents in the area (Image: Sprowston's Not Lovin' It)

People living in the area say there's been accidents constantly at the Mousehold Lane junction, next to the M&S petrol station (Image: Sprowston's Not Lovin' It)

The most vocal campaign against the development was Sprowston's Not Lovin' It, which echoed concerns about the crossing.

A spokesman for the group said: "It's very disappointing, but expected.

"There have been three recorded accidents, since September last year, at the pedestrian crossing.

"All of these were reported to the Inspectorate and no concerns were raised about the safety of the immediate surrounding roads.

Stephen Clayton said people living near to the site didn't want the McDonald's application to be granted (Image: Newsquest)

"The impact on the amenity hasn't been adequately considered, but this is down to the failure of Norwich City Council and Broadland District Council - which represent the people on the opposite side of Mousehold Lane - during their initial planning considerations."

The Planning Inspectorate dismissed concerns around increased traffic with the site being on the city's outer ring road.

The inspector making the judgement, Conor Rafferty, pointed to it already being a well-used road and said: "Many future customers that would be visiting the proposal would already be on the road, rather than solely travelling to the site."

Mike Sands is vice chairman of the city council's planning committee and was one of five councillors to vote for the development. 

He said: "I'm happy with the decision. McDonald's knows whether it can make a profit or not at the site and it's not for the planning committee to decide that.

"The key thing is a potential increase in litter, so hopefully all due care will be taken to ensure litter will be removed from the area and discouraged."

A sign next to the proposed site saying You keep it, we don't want it! (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

Mr Sands, also the chairman of the Mousehold Conservators, added: "At the time I asked whether McDonald's could make donations to the conservators to help try and have a civic relationship and help keep people onside."

READ MORE: Decision FLIPPED on controversial McDonald's site as plans are approved

District and town councillor Martin Booth added: "I thought the decision would be overturned.

"I thought the city council's complaints against the development were very weak, so it doesn't surprise me.

READ MORE: Work restarts on revamp of grade II listed pub after lengthy delays

"I think it's a good thing because it'll bring jobs to the area, that is great news whichever way you look at it."

McDonald's will be taking over the Richard Nash Cars site (Image: Newsquest)

School's plea with fast food giant

The head of a school just around the corner from the new McDonald's site hopes it can broker an arrangement with the fast food giant to avoid selling its products to pupils at certain times - like with others nearby.

Jon Ford, principal of Open Academy, formerly Heartsease High, said: "From a school perspective, we would not be encouraging the siting of new fast food restaurants in our vicinity. 

John Ford, principal at the Open Academy, in Salhouse Road (Image: DNEAT)

"However we recognise that the local economy is more than just the Academy and so we'd be very keen to ensure that when the McDonald's does go ahead, they enter into the same agreement we have with other local fast food providers such as KFC and Costa Coffee, which both exist opposite the school gates. 

"The agreement is they don't serve pupils in school uniform between 8am and 6pm unless accompanied by parents or carers. 
 
"It would be good to think that, if it goes ahead, McDonald's will honour the same agreements."