Gloucester Quays may soon welcome one of the county's largest restaurants if proposals to convert empty retail units receive approval, with speculation mounting that it could house a McDonald's.
The retail outlet's owners are seeking clarification on a planning restriction regarding food and drink floorspace limitations at the site.
Their latest submissions indicate they want Gloucester City Council to accommodate a new restaurant occupant for units 73 to 76, which have remained unoccupied since construction and were originally designated for retail use.
The proposed food and drink establishment would span approximately 691 square metres, surpassing both the empty former TGI Friday's premises at around 480 square metres and the neighbouring Wetherspoons at roughly 565 square metres.
"From time to time the tenants within the outlet change," they stated in the accompanying documentation for the proposals.
To accommodate these modifications, they note there have been consistent applications to the council confirming the positioning of leisure-use units at the Quays.
A separate planning stipulation permits up to 3,590 square metres of floorspace within the factory outlet shopping district, encompassing the primary outlet and sections along Baker's Quay, Merchants Road, High Orchard Street and Llanthony Road.
"We are therefore seeking to update the condition 30 plan to include this combined unit," they outlined in the proposals.
"This proposal also results in a reduction in the 'allocation' of leisure floorspace to the 'Numold' area of the site.
"After nearly 20 years since the granting of the outline planning permission for Gloucester Quays, the Numold element of the site has not come forward for development and reserved matters applications on this part of the site which could have potentially benefitted from the 'allowance' are not now possible.
"Given the 'allowance' was only an estimate not based on any detailed proposals, it is considered reasonable, especially taking account of the passing of time, that the residual 'leisure' floorspace 'allocated' to the Numold site be redistributed.
"This approach has previously been accepted by the City Council and will not undermine or prejudice the potential for 'leisure' uses coming forward on the site in the future.
"Albeit that would need to be through standalone planning applications rather than relying on the outline planning permission."
Gloucester Quays LLP maintains the specifics regarding the character, magnitude, category and allocation of proposed 'leisure' facilities aligns with the original objectives of the amended outline planning application.
The scheme aims to deliver a mixture of land uses to guarantee the commercial viability of the development and secure its continued contribution to the broader city centre's prosperity.
Councillor Rebecca Trimnell (LD, Westgate), who serves the constituency at the City Council, said she typically supports alterations to usage provided they complement the neighbouring environment. However, she warned there could be no oversight regarding which restaurant might open if the change of use receives approval.
She also queries whether Gloucester truly wants another McDonald's in that area of the city.
"Although eatery establishments are all well and good, I am very mindful about the change of use in terms of these units," she said.
"We change the use and then there is no control on what eatery establishments would be set up in these units. For instance, do we want to see another McDonald's at this end of the city?
"Moreover, I am concerned about the possible impact on the newly established Food Dock at the other end of the Docks too. There needs to be a balance."
Fellow Westgate Councillor Pam Tracey (C) believes it wouldn't suit a McDonald's given Burger King's presence at the Peel Centre.
However, a restaurant in that location might "work as a bookend for the Quays", she suggested.
"It's a bit of a dead end down there," she said. "Let's hope it tidies that area up. You've got the one restaurant in the entrance of Severn Road and it could be a bookend for either side of the Quays."
