Andover Business
McDonald's plans big expansion across Hampshire
12:34pm Tuesday 31st January 2012
FAST food giant McDonald’s is planning to create almost 180 jobs across Hampshire in a move that aims to cut youth unemployment.
The company wants to build a new drive-thru restaurant at Totton and is also proposing to take on extra staff at many of its existing outlets.
McDonald’s says about 30 per cent of the vacancies will be reserved for young people still struggling to find their first job.
Company bosses are planning to create a total of 2,500 posts across the UK, with more than half going to people under the age of 25.
The massive expansion campaign is good news for Southampton, where the jobless rate has reached 6.6 per cent.
The new restaurant is due to be built on a site that has stood empty since the Red Lion pub in Commercial Road, Totton, burned down in 2010.
The two-storey complex will have seating for 85 customers, plus 41 parking spaces and a drive-thru lane for customers buying takeaways.
McDonald’s says the scheme will create 75 full and part-time jobs.
Managers are also planning to employ another 102 workers at existing outlets, including those in Millbrook, WestQuay, Swaythling and Hedge End.
It comes just days after Sainsbury’s unveiled proposals to build a massive supermarket that will create 230 jobs in Eastleigh.
McDonald’s has already submitted its Totton proposal to New Forest District Council, which is likely to make a decision within weeks. If approved it will open early next year.
The application says: “With the exception of the management team, almost all the staff will be recruited from the local community. There has been an increase in unemployment in the area since 2008 and any jobs and investment locally would make a positive contribution to the social and economic value of the area.”
However, the scheme is set to face opposition from Totton and Eling Town Council.
Councillor David Harrison said the authority would almost certainly urge the district council to reject the application on the grounds that the proposed development was out of keeping with the area.
Councillor Chris Lagdon warned that the site was hidden by a bend in Commercial Road – one of the main Totton-Southampton routes.
He added: “It was dangerous before and a drive-thru restaurant would be much busier than the pub ever was.
There’s going to be a major accident if this goes ahead.”