The fast-food company has applied for planning permission to build a new branch at 268 Old Shoreham Road, Hove, next to Majestic Wines.
Neighbours have held protests – including one last week – as they try to see off the plans which are due to be decided by Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee next week.
A report to the planning committee said that, if successful, the application would undermine green travel, add to traffic and increase road safety risks.
It would also make fast food more readily available near schools and parks used by children while reducing the amount of employment space and the number of good-quality jobs.
Two businesses are based at the site – Pavilion Batteries and tool hire company PR Industrial – opposite the eastern end of Hove Cemetery South.
The plot, formerly a KAP used car showroom, is between Majestic Wines and the Star Property Group.
The council has received 336 objections to the plans including from Aldrington Primary School, Blatchington Mill School, Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Goldstone Primary School, Hove Park School, Hove Civic Society and the Regency Society.
Two Labour councillors, Faiza Baghoth and John Hewitt, who represent Hangleton and Knoll ward, have also objected to the application, raising several concerns.
Cllr Baghoth said: “Research shows that areas of low economic income are more prone to fast food and junk food which is detrimental to their health at the cost of the NHS which is already struggling.
“Hangleton and Knoll is the third most deprived area in our vicinity so this risk will be increased with a McDonald’s on their doorstep, so to speak.”
Cllr Hewitt said: “The entrance and exit to the proposed drive-through are directly on to the Old Shoreham Road which is a busy dual carriageway.
“Vehicles accessing or exiting the drive-through and turning either west or east will cause a build up of traffic.
“Hove Fire Station, which is situated near by, and the junction of Holmes Avenue will both be impacted.”
Labour councillor Jacob Allen was the council’s cabinet member for adult social care, public health and service transformation when he objected to the proposal.
Cllr Allen said: “The NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) explicitly states that local planning authorities should refuse applications for hot-food takeaways and fast-food outlets within walking distance of schools and other places where children and young people congregate.”
The NPPF said town centre locations were more suitable but discouraged the approval of plans for fast-food restaurants where there was evidence of a concentration of them and that it was having an adverse effect on local health, pollution or antisocial behaviour.
Cllr Allen said: “I feel this site is outside of the scope allowable under planning policy and it therefore should not be considered acceptable.”
The council’s public health, sustainable transport, food policy and planning policy teams have also objected to the McDonald’s application.
The council has received 111 comments in support of the scheme.
One anonymous supporter, whose details were redacted by the council, said: “I would welcome this McDonald’s drive-through in the neighbourhood.
“I drive to Shoreham once a month to buy a McPlant before going through the car wash and it will be significantly more convenient to do it here and at the Shell garage.”
Another anonymous supporter, whose details were also redacted, said: “I approve of this development.
“The additional jobs this will create will be of a net benefit and, in my opinion, this outweighs the potential noise disruption which are unproven and can be easily mitigated.”
McDonald’s said it had addressed planners’ concerns about employment in a statement submitted to the council through the company’s agent, Planware, last year.
The fast-food giant said: “The current site supports limited employment which, even when previously occupied by the car showroom, was not comparable with the employment generation associated with the proposed development, which is significantly higher.
“As identified within the commercial report, the existing buildings have had no direct interest for any industrial or office use and do not have any future for commercial occupation given their poor existing condition.”
McDonald’s also said there was no agreed definition of an appropriate walking distance from a school to a fast-food outlet although Public Health England said that 400m would be a reasonable walking distance.
The nearest school is more than 800m away on foot.
The council’s planning committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 2pm on Wednesday, May 6. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
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