PLANS for a new drive-thru Burger King have been approved – despite debate over whether the business would be a restaurant or a takeaway.

The second phase of the redevelopment of the former Union Mills site in Eccleshill will include the Burger King and two large commercial buildings.

Phase one of the site included a Lidl and Starbucks.

A planning application for the phase 2 scheme was submitted by Opus North late last year, and has now been approved by planning officers at Bradford Council.

However, the inclusion of a drive-thru restaurant in the plans had divided opinion among Council officers.

Bradford Council currently has a policy that prevents new takeaways from opening within 400 metres of a school, park or leisure facility – part of a push to reduce childhood obesity.

The new Burger King would be 200 metres north of St Luke’s Church of England Primary School.

The Council’s Local Plan team described the development as “unsuitable” due to its proximity to the school, adding: “Some may argue that the scheme is almost perfectly positioned with its prominent frontage location to attract the pre and post-school run market.”

It said the layout of the business, and the proposed seating inside, made clear the focus would be drive-thru and takeaway rather than restaurant.

Referring to the drive-thru element, they added: “With the potential for queuing and idling traffic plus parked cars with engines running this may have a negative impact on nearby residential amenity and reduce air quality with related health impacts.”

Despite these concerns, planning offices have now approved the scheme.

Referring to the takeaway/restaurant issue, officers said: “No particular seating arrangement has been submitted for the restaurant element of the proposal and this therefore gives the impression of an ‘order and go’ environment.”

But they said a previous application for the site included a cafe with a takeaway element.

Officers added: “This permission has accepted the principle of this type of use within the 400-metre buffer zone of the primary school.

“It should also be noted that children at a primary school do not leave the premises at lunchtime and therefore should their parents take the children to such an establishment it will be outside school hours.

“It is considered therefore that the sting of the drive-thru restaurant is acceptable.”

Referring to the air quality concerns, they said: “Whilst there will be some exposure to air pollutants by members of the public using the proposed facilities this will only be short term.

“A Travel Plan has been submitted in support of the application and following initial concerns it has subsequently been amended to include details such as ‘anti-idling’ signage for cars using the development and is now considered to be acceptable by the Clean Air Team.”

One condition of the approval is that electric car charging points are installed in the car park.