A disused Travelodge could be torn down to make way for a McDonald’s.

The fast food giant has revealed hopes of demolishing the abandoned hotel at the A2 London bound Gate Services at Dunkirk, between Faversham and Canterbury, to make way for the new site.

The 79-seater eatery would also act as a drive-thru for motorists to get their fix – with bosses eyeing up a 2025 opening date. It comes as Costa Coffee ploughs on with plans to move in next door.

In papers submitted to Swale Borough Council, teams working on behalf of McDonald’s said: “The proposals provide the opportunity for McDonald’s to meet a long-standing requirement for a restaurant to serve this catchment area, to meet customer demand and introduce additional choice in the market.

“The proposed development represents a multi-million-pound investment creating jobs both during the construction and operation phases, resulting in many associated economic benefits for the local area.

“The site represents an appropriate location for a drive-thru restaurant, which will be well placed to offer refreshments to passing customers and those in the surrounding area.”

A McDonald’s spokesperson added: “We are excited to be progressing with this planning application, with the restaurant set to open in 2025.”

The lack of a McDonald’s nearby has often been something of a running joke within the Faversham community – with the market town lacking many of the big businesses its neighbours play host to.

Currently, the nearest McDonald’s drive-thrus are in Sturry Road, Canterbury, and Chestfield, near Whitstable, whilst the only other chain on this stretch of the A2 is at Whitfield Services in Dover.

Bosses at the huge conglomerate believe the scheme could see more than 120 people employed on a full-time or part-time basis – with McDonald’s looking to recruit from the nearby area.

It is not yet known if the eatery would be 24 hours – with McDonald’s advising more details would become available next year.

The company claims its presence in the Canterbury district – which hosts three stores – has contributed £5.58 million to the economy, with 85% associated with the value of the meals sold in restaurants.

However, Rich Lehmann, who is on both Kent County Council and Swale Borough Council, admitted he was “disappointed” to hear about the idea.

The Green councillor and representative for Boughton and Courtenay, said: “This site will only be accessible by car, and customers travelling from Faversham, which is presumably the primary target market for this site, would be making a 14-mile round trip to buy a meal.

“Remote fast food locations like this one also generate huge volumes of litter across our country roads.

“I've regularly seen McDonald's packaging on some of the quietest roads in Swale, miles from their nearest branch, and this would only worsen that situation.”

However the firm says it has a “proud history in helping local communities to tackle waste” and that “it is company policy to conduct a minimum of three daily litter patrols” where employees pick up all litter that may have been discarded in a 150m vicinity of a restaurant.

Motor Fuel Group, which owns the land the Travelodge sits on, saw a prior application to demolish the building approved in October – with the firm in charge of the destruction of the site aiming to have the job done by spring 2024.

It is not known if McDonald’s will lease the site or have bought the land from MFG.

Travelodge closed permanently in May 2023, with the chain confirming it is actively looking to find a third site in Canterbury to accompany the Canterbury Whitstable and Canterbury Chaucer Central properties.

The proposals come as Costa Coffee continues extensive works to bring the former Sheila’s Kitchen building up to scratch.

Once an 18th-century coaching inn, the Grade II-listed building at Gate Services had lived life as a Little Chef - between 1986 and 2005 - before becoming the roadside greasy spoon Sheila’s Kitchen.

The conversion of the building was given the green light by council officers last year – and it had been hoped to see the hot drinks company move in by the end of this year though an official date has yet to be confirmed.

Costa Coffee have been contacted for comment.