The McDonald’s restaurant at Central 12 Retail Park on Derby Road in Southport is seeking permission to increase its opening hours to 24 hours a day.
When McDonald’s opened two years ago, Sefton Council set opening hours of 6am-11pm each day. Deliveries are not permitted outside of 5pm-9pm.
Owners say increased hours will allow them to meet customer demand, as well as creating additional jobs, providing more hours for existing employees, and boosting the local economy.
They have submitted an application to Sefton Council asking for permission to change the conditions related to opening hours which were set when planning permission was granted two years ago.
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The site became the third McDonald’s in Southport, adding to sites at Kew and Central 12.
A letter from Savills UK said: “We write on behalf of our client, McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd, to amend the operating hours of the restaurant at Unit 11 Central 12 Retail Park on Derby Road in Southport.
“This application seeks consent for the 24 hour operation of the restaurant, seven days a week.
“The application site extends to 424 sq m and is a modern, purpose-built retail unit.
“It was previously occupied by Royal Doulton and then remained vacant for 10 years before being occupied by McDonald’s in July 2024.
“Central 12 is an established commercial location. There are already nearby operators trading at similar or longer hours. Most notably, Asda Southport superstore, within the same retail park, trades from 6am to midnight Monday to Friday, demonstrating that extended early morning and late evening already forms part of the established character of the retail park.
“The site is therefore located within a well-established retail and commercial environment, where extended trading is already taking place
“This application seeks permission for the continued use of the site, without compliance with Conditions 6 and 7 of the 2024 permission, in order to enable the restaurant to operate 24 hours, seven days a week .
“The proposed extension to the opening hours is not considered to give rise to any unacceptable impacts on residential amenity.
“The site is located within an area primarily characterised by mixed commercial uses, including other late-night uses in the surrounding area.
“The applicant is not aware of any complaints relating to plant noise or other operational noise from the premises, nor of any significant anti-social behaviour associated with the current operation of the restaurant.
“The extension of hours is intended to enable the restaurant to better meet customer demand during the late night and early morning periods and to improve overall operational efficiency.
“The extension of operating hours for the restaurant will create additional employment positions and additional working hours for existing employees at the site.
“These positions help to reduce unemployment and increase earnings and disposable income which benefit other businesses.
“The increased hours will allow more opportunities to generate sales leading to increased revenue, which will contribute to the local economy.”
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