A full planning application has now been submitted for a new McDonald’s drive‑thru in Cowes, revealing new details on jobs and opening hours.
The global fast-food chain is looking to develop land off Three Gates Road, directly opposite Rogerson Close. The site sits between the existing BAE Systems facility and the entrance to Van Mossel Esplanade Garage.
According to the planning application, the development would create around 120 jobs across full and part-time roles. McDonald’s says this would include positions in management, customer service, maintenance and food preparation.
It has also been confirmed that the Cowes branch would not operate on a 24-hour basis. Instead, the restaurant would be open from 06:00 to 00:00, 7 days a week.
Island Echo previously reported on the initial proposals in March, when early plans were revealed for new drive‑thru restaurants in both Cowes and Lake. A public consultation was later launched in June, with residents invited to comment on the draft plans.
Feedback gathered during that process has now informed the full application submitted to Isle of Wight Council.
In addition to the restaurant building and drive-thru lanes, the development includes proposals for a customer car park with 30 spaces, accessible bays, cycle parking and a loading bay. It also features landscaped boundaries, designated pedestrian routes and a bin storage area.
As with other McDonald’s sites, deliveries would be made during off-peak hours to reduce disruption. A noise impact assessment, odour control measures and a lighting strategy have been submitted as part of the application to address potential impacts on nearby residential properties.
Concerns raised during the consultation phase included increased traffic, littering, noise and the location’s proximity to homes. Others welcomed the proposal, citing job creation and increased choice for local residents.
Look out the nimbys will be off again. It brings jobs to locals, they will clean up the rubbish close by which, incidentally is more than what those big delivery lorries do now!
Whatever they say there is always traffic up that road. Lorries all day & night so a few more cars won’t make much difference.
Great, I don’t live anywhere near the proposed site. I feel sorry for the people that do. Three Gates Road is difficult to get in and out of at the best of times and can only imagine the traffic tailbacks (particularly at Somerton roundabout) and pollution when the drive through is up and running. The Isle of Wight is nothing but a collection of small towns with narrow roads, You only have to experience what it is like at the Ryde drive through at times to get a flavour or what it will be like. I’m McLoving it already.
Ryde McDonald’s should have been shut down years ago
DUE TO NO ROAD SAFETY!, IT IS ALSO A DISASTER FOR
MEMBERS OF STAFF WHO HAVE TO WALK TO VEHICLES
IN THE RAMMED CAR PARK!!
It is another example of NO Health and Safety on the island.
Bring this on asap. We live on benefits and a taxi for me and my disabled wife and four kids to get to Mackey Ds in Newport costs£25.with one in Cowes we will be able to get it delivered by Deliveroo and save a fortune. What we save in taxi fare’s might pay for an evening in the pub once a fortnight.
That’s nice now 4 kids get all that child benefits now more to spend on mc crap food if you can call it that..
No good for ones health.
Fast food is junk food.
Im looking forward to somewhere that won’t break the bank. Nibys already have a dining area in Place Road. Unfortunately nowhere
is safe from development. If you buy near a plot it’s probably inevitable.
Oh dear wheel spins burnouts rubbish thrown everywhere..cant wait also just wait for the car crashes..lovely..that’ll be nice to the residents.
Everyday the Ryde drive thru is an accident waiting to happen
The clueless council have no idea how to tackle road safety.
Won’t be too long before a serious accident takes place.
In the sensible part of the country eg, the mainland.
McDonald’s would have been closed down for being in a
dangerous place, not on the island though.
ROLL ON DEVOLUTION