Cheshire East Council has approved an application to build a Burger King restaurant and drive-through within part of an existing private pay-and-display Market Centre car park on the corner of West Street and Vernon Way.

The single-storey building will have space for up to 68 customers, as well as an outdoor seating area. The original application states that the new restaurant will create 18 full-time and 20 part-time jobs.

The proposal was initially met with objections from Crewe Town Council and 13 members of the public, who cited concerns over the development design, as well as increased vehicle congestion and litter issues in the area.

Since it was first submitted in May 2020, the plan has undergone significant revision, with the outer façade being changed from a striped 'mushroom' colour with wood effect panelling to brick walls and black cladding.

During a Cheshire East Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 3 March, several Councillors were still dissatisfied with certain aspects of the proposed development.

Cllr Anthony Critchley, who referred the application to the Committee, said: "I do still have some concerns with regards to air quality, not only over the Council's ambitious aims for carbon neutrality but also relating to highways.

He went on to point out that the Burger King development may interfere with an active travel scheme proposed for Vernon Way.

Referencing the employment opportunities mentioned in the application, Cllr Critchley added: "We need tangible, living wage jobs for the people of Crewe. This particular area is what people would describe as 'deprived' and I have a lot of case work where people are struggling to feed their kids.

"So we need jobs for local people and I'm not sure we're going to get them through this development."

On this subject, Cllr Laura Smith, having read that the average Burger King job pays about £8 an hour, said: "I have major concerns about the type of work that we are encouraging to come into Crewe when what we desperately need are well paid jobs. I would like to see a living wage restaurant coming in at least.

"I am also a bit concerned about the opportunities for children living in that area to access healthy food. I think that this contributes to the spiralling problems we have with health, wellbeing, life expectancy, illness and poverty in Crewe."

The Committee also heard from Cllr Suzie Akers-Smith, who suggested that the drive-through facility would increase single occupant car journeys in the town, going against the Council's commitment to combat climate change.

"We keep doing the same things and expecting the outcome to be different," she said. "We committed to fighting climate change last year and I don't understand why we need a drive-through development in the town centre of Crewe.

"That location would be much better for a sit-in restaurant, something that would make Crewe look and feel better.

"This development will encourage single occupant journeys, there's no doubt about that. The active travel measures are designed to encourage more walking and cycling and this development goes against that ideal. I think this developer should rethink this application and consider a different option."

Following this discussion, the whole Committee – save Cllr Stan Davies, who abstained – voted in favour of the proposed development, subject to certain conditions.

These include a parking scheme for staff, the provision of secure and covered cycle parking with space for seven bikes and a waste management plan involving litter picking within 100 metres of the site.

Councillors also requested that part of the external seating area be covered to allow for poor weather, and that staff be provided with shower and changing areas.

To diminish any negative impact on the air quality of the immediate vicinity, low-emission boilers will be used, and the extractor ventilation will be directed east, away from public areas.

The car park will also be equipped with charging points for electric vehicles.