McDonald’s set to open on Otley Run route

Plans to open a McDonald’s on the Otley Run pub crawl route have been recommended for approval.

McDonald’s applied to Leeds City Council to open a new outlet at the site of the former Wilko store on Otley Road.

According to the BBC, the plan has drawn criticism, with Leeds Central and Headingley Labour MP Alex Sobel claiming it would “exacerbate anti-social behaviour, noise and littering problems” associated with the pub crawl route.

In January, Sobel said the plans were “completely out of keeping with the area” and would be a “complete disaster”.

Sobel added: “Residents and local businesses would clearly suffer through diminished property values and in terms of their day-to-day quality of life.”

The proposed restaurant is the equivalent of the largest existing McDonald’s in the city, located on Briggate.

But a council report recommended approval with conditions, saying the objections received were outside the scope of the planning application.

The former Wilko shop on Otley Road via Google Street View

Some have expressed support for a McDonald’s on Otley Road, with student Rose Hubble, 22, saying: “It would be great to be nearby and just be able to get some chips when you want them.”

“The nearest one is far. I was surprised that there’s not one closer. This is student-central,” she added.

Leeds City Council received 20 letters of concern from locals and ward councillors over the planned alterations, including a new shop front, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that one objection letter said: “A McDonald’s would only add to the drunk and disorderly behaviour regularly observed on weekends.”

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Another said: “The Otley Run pub crawl is already causing huge problems in and around Headingley Central.”