McDonald’s is set to return to Gosport’s High Street after six years away as converts an empty shop, creating more than 100 new jobs.

Gosport Borough Council granted a change of use for the purpose-built 1930s Burton clothing shop at 111-112 High Street, Gosport.

The empty building’s ground floor shop will be converted to a 48-seat restaurant and takeaway, with new signage.

The approved signage includes a yellow vinyl “golden arch” applied to the windows, a white acrylic “McDonald’s” mounted on fascia over the entrance with a yellow acrylic “golden arch” symbol mounted on one side of the fascia.

The application form said the takeaway would create 30 full-time and 90 part-time jobs, the equivalent of 62 full-time jobs. 

One public written letter of support during the consultation said the shop would promote footfall. The officers’ report said the council seeks to maintain the vitality and viability of the shopping centres and allow a greater diversity of uses. 

It said: “The proposals would result in the ground floor being used for a purpose that would be likely to attract footfall and potentially draw customers to the High Street, in accordance with policy.”

Concerns from a letter of objection from the public raised issues over littering and promoting unhealthy eating during the consultation process. The decision notice said antisocial behaviour and loitering would be a police matter and the issue of unhealthy eating is not a planning policy issue. 

During the application process, consultees had raised some concerns including the impact on the town centre caused by an increase in littering with customers failing to dispose of their rubbish correctly. To tackle littering because of the potential for a “higher level of takeaway in the proposal,” Gosport’s planning department had suggested that the company be responsible for litter over a greater area outside the fast food outlet.

The decision notice said the shop shall remain closed to and vacated by customers between midnight and 6am on any day. No takeaway or deliveries can be received at or dispatched from the site between 12.01am and 6am on any day.

The new restaurant has pedestrian access for customers and couriers from the High Street, with two motorcycle parking spaces at the rear on Coates Road which would be used by couriers. There will also be cycle stands nearby.

The former McDonald’s town centre restaurant located at 57-59 High Street was closed in November 2018. McDonald’s said at the time that the decision was made to close that site because of the new opening in Brockhurst Gate Retail Park.