Bid to turn former Burton store in Gosport into a McDonald's

The fast food giant has submitted an application to turn the former Burton menswear store at 111-112 High Street into a 48-seat restaurant.

It comes after plans to convert a disused nightclub on the first floor of the building into offices were given the go-ahead.

A previous McDonald's outlet on the other side of the High Street closed in November 2018 following the completion of a drive-thru just off the A32 at Brockhurst Gate Retail Park.

McDonald's has unveiled plans to turn a former Burton store into a 48-seat restaurant (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking at the time a McDonald's spokesperson said all the employees had been offered jobs at the new premises.

Now the company has reversed its decision to quit the town centre after researching the area and concluding "the time is right" to re-establish a presence in the High Street.

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In a statement it said: "We are excited to have submitted an application to open a new restaurant in Gosport next year, bringing significant investment and up to 120 full and part-time jobs to the local area.

"We carefully select the locations for new restaurants based on customer demand and our existing restaurant locations.

"We consult with local stakeholders throughout the planning process, including local residents, to ensure any new restaurants are appropriate for our business, our customers and for the local community."

The site of the previous McDonald's in Gosport High Street. The outlet closed in 2018 (Image: Newsquest)

The borough council has already received a letter supporting the application.

Tony Weaver, of Bury Road, Gosport, said: "This will be great for Gosport High Street and will most likely bring more people into town. This will also bring much-needed jobs."

The Burton building is almost opposite the previous McDonald's restaurant and takeaway.

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Two years ago the council received an application to turn the the vacant clothing store into flats. The scheme was hailed as a chance to "kickstart the regeneration of the High Street", but the authority recently approved plans to convert the first floor - once the home of QD's Live Lounge - into offices.

The application said the scheme would make more use of a centrally located site that was currently underutilised.

A council report added: "The proposals would result in no loss of ground floor retail space. The proposals are, therefore, an acceptable and appropriate use within the town centre."

If the McDonald's scheme is given the go-ahead, the new restaurant will be open from 6am to midnight.