Plans to open a McDonald’s restaurant opposite a GP surgery in a town centre have been approved.

The fast food firm will be moving into a vacant unit at Swanley Square Shopping Centre.

In March, a change of use application was validated by Sevenoaks council to alter the site at units 29 and 30, from a bank to a restaurant and hot food takeway

The building was last occupied by Barclays Bank, which had been based there until its closure in November 2021, and sits opposite The Cedars doctors surgery.

Plans involved alterations being made to the elevations of the site with the relocation of the entrance and the installation of new doors and glazing.

The proposals will also reconfigure the existing car park and service yard access along Nightingale Way.

In total, there will be 70 car parking spaces provided including eight disabled spaces and three parent and child parking spaces.

In addition, there will also be three parallel parking spaces at the front of Unit 30 and five spaces for motorbikes, adding an extra four spaces to the site.

A separate application seeking permission to erect its iconic signage displaying its yellow “golden arches” at the plot has also been approved.

On May 17, the application was granted by the council, subject to conditions.

Deliveries will only be allowed to be taken at or dispatched from the site between 7am and 9pm on an day.

The original application received three responses to the “drive to” application, with two objections raised and one neighbour outlining their support.

Concerns were voiced around traffic and litter, while positives noted included added jobs and a reduction in journey times travelling to the fast food giant’s nearest branches.

One objector responding to the plans said Swanley shopping centre was in need of an “uplift” but didn’t think the plans were the answer.

They claimed the takeaway would cause “further downgrading to the area” adding: “Swanley does not need another McDonalds. There is already a McDonalds on the A20 which is quite sufficient to serve this small town.

“This is definitely the wrong site for any fast food business and should be stopped from degrading and causing further problems to the town.”

However, a traffic note prepared on behalf of the applicants noted while there would likely be a “slight increase in trips” during peak evening windows this would have a “minimal impact on parking”.

It concluded there were no traffic or highways reasons why the application should not be recommended for approval.

Some neighbours also voiced their support for the vendor’s plan, noting it would “bring jobs in to the area”.

It was also acknowledged residents would have less distance to travel to get to the nearest McDonald’s branches which are located in Orpington and at the A20 Swanley service station.

Existing food retailers at Swanley Square include KFC, Subway, Costa Coffee and Iceland.

When asked by KentOnline about a scheduled opening date a spokesperson for McDonald’s said it was unable to share any further details at this point, as works are yet to start at the site.