People’s top three priorities for St James’ Park centre – and McDonald’s is not among them

Plans for a McDonald’s at St James’ Park failed to score as a priority for Bishop’s Stortford residents.

The fast food chain and Central Co-op are behind a ‘reserved matters’ planning application detailing the proposed appearance, layout, landscaping and scale of a neighbourhood centre for developer Countryside’s 750-home estate.

During the summer, residents were consulted about the scheme and a report submitted to planning authority East Herts Council (EHC) as part of the application details the results.

When people were given a list of nine key features of the proposals and asked to select their top three priorities, the McDonald’s drive-thru failed to score.

The community consultation document by Cavendish says: “Priorities in terms of uses were the community centre, nursery and Co-op store.

“In terms of approach to design, the promotion of active travel was also popular, with 474 respondents selecting this as one of their top three priorities for the site.

“While the new McDonald’s restaurant was not among the top three priorities of any respondents, 316 respondents selected a range of new jobs, both full- and part-time, as one of their top three priorities for the site. McDonald’s would be the largest future employer of the local centre operators.”

The report highlights concerns about the lack of medical services on site.

“A number of respondents, whilst supportive of the community centre provision, expressed concern that the proposals for the local centre did not include a GP, pharmacist or dentist, the need for which was considered pressing in the area and exacerbated by the new residents in St James’ Park.

“It is worth noting that the wider St James’ Park development included contributions to healthcare as part of the original outline. Provision for investment in these uses has therefore already been considered and provided for by Countryside.”

However, permitted uses at the centre do include medical or health service provision and “could potentially come forward in the sub-unit within the scheme should demand emerge, now or in the future”.

In 2019, EHC agreed on the principle of building the centre as part of a hybrid planning permission for the wider Bishop’s Stortford South development off Whittington Way.

Planners approved detailed proposals for 142 homes and an outline application for a further 608. They also sanctioned a care home, employment land and new secondary and primary schools.

In July this year, Connaught Care Collection opened Meadowbrook care home at the site, Wrenbridge and Fiera Real Estate have developed the Spark logistics park and The Bishop’s Stortford High School relocated in September, leaving just the primary school and neighbourhood centre to finalise.

The outline permission approves up to 1,000 sq m of shops and up to 2,200 sq m of cafés, restaurants, hot food takeaway, local services, gym, nursery and community uses.

McDonald’s and Central Co-op have already announced that PureGym is part of their plans.

The new detailed submission gives residents a second chance to voice their concerns about the scheme, and on Wednesday (September 18) a stream of objections was lodged.

One householder said: “The last thing that is needed is a drive-thru McDonald’s when road congestion is already killing the town. How about doctors’ surgery instead?”

Others reiterated concerns about the proximity of the fast food joint to the new secondary school.