Plans have been submitted to Somerset Council for a McDonald’s drive‑thru on vacant land at the Bridgwater Gateway site, close to junction 24 of the M5. If approved, the scheme is expected to create more than 120 jobs in the local area and sit alongside further industrial units and existing retailers on Carnival Way.
What is proposed at Bridgwater Gateway
The site lies north of the A38 Taunton Road and currently hosts ten business units, a Premier Inn, a Lidl supermarket and outlets operated by Costa Coffee, Domino’s Pizza and Greggs. The application would locate the restaurant between the Greggs outlet and the Lidl car park, with the McDonald’s positioned at the southern edge of the identified plot.
The proposal includes:
- McDonald’s restaurant with drive‑thru and associated parking
- Two additional industrial units similar in design to existing units on the Gateway site
- New pedestrian and cycling links connecting to Taunton Road and the Bridgwater LCWIP 'green route'
Transport, parking and active travel measures
Primary vehicular access to the development would be via Carnival Way. The scheme provides 37 car parking spaces (including two disabled bays), two electric vehicle charging points and 18 cycle spaces. A new pedestrian and cycle link to the south onto Taunton Road is also included, intended to tie into the wider Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan.
| Feature | Number / detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated jobs | More than 120 |
| Car parking spaces | 37 (including 2 disabled bays) |
| EV charging points | 2 |
| Cycle spaces | 18 |
| Nearby planned housing | 511 homes across the northern end of the site |
Context within the wider Bridgwater Gateway development
The Bridgwater Gateway has seen significant recent activity: planning approval was granted for revised proposals for 361 houses from Keepmoat Homes, with a further 150 dwellings to be delivered by the Vistry Group, making a total of 511 homes planned for the northern end of the site. The proposed McDonald’s and the extra industrial units would occupy vacant land on Carnival Way within this expanding mixed commercial and residential area.
Timing and operational details
Somerset Council is expected to reach a decision on the application before Christmas. The planning documents do not specify exact trading hours for the restaurant; however, the application notes that trading hours are expected to mirror neighbouring businesses to help reduce antisocial behaviour and limit late‑night traffic.
Residents and road‑users will want to see how the proposals affect traffic flows around junction 24, parking capacity at the Gateway and the delivery of the promised walking and cycling link. If permitted, the development will add another national operator to a site that is already a commercial hub close to the M5, while contributing to local employment opportunities.
