McDonald’s insisted it remains committed to opening a drive-thru restaurant in Balmacassie Industrial Estate, across from the town’s busy Tesco superstore.

McDonald’s aims to submit revised proposals for the Castle Road site to Aberdeenshire Council in the next few weeks.

Initial plans submitted earlier in the year gathered support in the town. A public consultation event was held at the end of March and residents were also encouraged to share their views online. As a result, a total of 1,139 responses were received and 91% were in full or partial support.

However, feedback from Aberdeenshire Council, particularly around car parking, McDonald’s has decided to revisit its plans and alter them, the Press and Journal reports. 

Andrew Crewther, senior acquisitions manager, McDonald’s said: “Following a review of the proposals and constructive dialogue with Aberdeenshire Council, we have taken the decision to withdraw our application.

“We have been encouraged by the positive feedback we’ve received, and we are committed to bringing a restaurant to Ellon.

“In the coming weeks we’ll be refining our proposals in line with Aberdeenshire Council’s comments regarding the car parking restraints to the site. We look forward to presenting these revised proposals.”

The project aims to deliver a modern freestanding single-story McDonald’s restaurant with a drive-thru, car parking, landscaping and “other necessary features such as customer order displays”, covering a total area of about 2,700sq ft.

It is expected to create 100 full and part-time jobs.

A spokeswoman for McDonald’s said: “If approved, the new drivethru will deliver significant investment into Aberdeenshire, helping support the local economic recovery from Covid-19.

“Our latest economic impact report shows that McDonald’s contributes around £2m into Aberdeenshire’s regional economy and £11m into the wider north-east economy.”