An anticipated Crewe Burger King development has fallen through - after fast-food rivals McDonald's purchased a car park site for £1.4 million.

McDonald's completed a £1.4 million deal for Market Shopping Centre Car Park on Friday 21 April - on the corner of West Street and Vernon Way.

The fast-food giant acquired the land from Real Estate Investors (REI) - with plans to open its third Crewe drive-thru restaurant in "late" 2023.

McDonald's drive-thru restaurant, Macon Way (Ryan Parker).

This car park was set to become a new Burger King drive-thru restaurant - with the development being approved with conditions in March 2021.

The site was previously under offer from a Burger King franchiser on behalf of MK2 Real Estate for £1,350,000.

In November 2022, MK2 director, Mark Johnson, told Nub News: "The deal is still under offer but not completed yet."

Five months later, McDonald's swooped in to compete a deal with MK2 confirming to Nub News "the deal was done."

McDonald's new restaurant will feature indoor and outdoor seating, plus on-site car parking spaces for customers and staff.

Crewe's Burger King drive-thru restaurant had been in the pipeline since May 2020 - set to create 18 full-time and 20 part-time jobs (Cheshire East Planning).

It will include disabled spaces, electric vehicle charging points and cycle parking.

On April 22, McDonald's confirmed the £1.4 million purchase to Nub News - but refused to answer specific questions about it.

A McDonald's spokesperson told Nub News "I have heard back from the estates team.

"The only update we can share is that we're looking forward to opening the new restaurant late this year."

McDonald's currently has drive-thru restaurants on Macon Way and Dunwoody Way in Crewe.

McDonald's drive-thru restuarant, Dunwoody Way (Ryan Parker).

The fast-food chain closed its Crewe town centre restaurant in February 2018 after 34 years.

McDonalds' Market Shopping Centre drive-thru will become its most central Crewe restaurant.

Asset manager at REI, Jack Sears, added: "We have completed the sale of land to McDonalds for £1.4m for them to develop as a drive-thru.

"This development will bring employment to the area and attract more shoppers and diners to the Market Shopping Centre, complementing the existing consumer offers at the centre."

McDonalds' Market Shopping Centre drive-thru will become its most central Crewe restaurant (Wikimedia Commons).

REI bought the entire Market Shopping Centre from Scottish Widows in 2016.

Market Shopping Centre is currently occupied by retailers including: B&M, Clarks, Iceland, Superdrug, Peacocks, Wilko and Poundstretcher.

Mr Sears added: "This development will hopefully improve both footfall and occupancy."

Crewe's Burger King drive-thru restaurant had been in the pipeline since May 2020 - set to create 18 full-time and 20 part-time jobs.

Market Shopping Centre is currently occupied by retailers including: B&M, Clarks, Iceland, Superdrug, Peacocks, Wilko and Poundstretcher (Ryan Parker).

In February, Cheshire East Council refused a discharge of conditions for the development on two accounts - saying 'insufficient information' had been provided for both.

These discharge of conditions were a submission of details for the remediation of contaminated land and surface water drainage at the site.

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