McDonald's Expansion Set for Reading Retail Park

Changes are coming to the McDonald's at Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley, as its set to seat more than 100 people for the first time.

Reading Gate is a shopping and eating destination off the A33, close to Green Park and the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Newer arrivals include Next (opened last November) and Wingstop (opened in March).

McDonald's has run a drive-thru there for years; the site is franchised by Fortress Operations.

This summer McDonald's applied for an extension to bring indoor seating to 104. Plans show 26 seats being added; the restaurant currently has 82, so the extension gives a net increase of 22 seats.

The extension will significantly reduce outdoor seating, dropping from 11 tables to five next to the restaurant entrance.

The application was approved with no planning officer report being required on September 15.

McDonald's also won permission to install two 'M' golden arches on a tower attached to the building. Planning officer Sian Hickey assessed the signage; her report states: "The proposed signage is of high-quality design." "In terms of location, size and appearance (including illumination levels) the proposed signage is considered acceptable and would not harm the visual amenity of the surrounding area."

You can view plans by entering references PL/26/0901 and PL/26/0902 on Reading Borough Councils planning portal.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter