As signs have been installed and work continues on a new McDonald's drive-through outlet, the fast food chain has successfully applied for a new premises licence.

Work to develop a modern freestanding single storey restaurant with drive-thru facility has been continuing on land south of Leisure Way in Lowestoft for almost three months.

With a scheme to create the new drive-through McDonald's restaurant in Lowestoft gathering pace, the fast food chain lodged a "new premises licence" application with East Suffolk Council in August.

Members of East Suffolk Council's licensing sub-committee have discussed the proposed licensable activities.

After plans to build the third McDonald's outlet in Lowestoft were approved by East Suffolk Council under delegated powers in December last year, last week's meeting was told "that a hearing was required" after "17 representations had been received against the application" along with representation from Suffolk Constabulary.

With McDonald’s applying for a new premises license  "to permit late-night refreshment - indoors and outdoors - from Monday to Sunday 11pm to 5am" alongside the "proposed opening hours" of "Monday to Sunday 24-hours" for the new outlet at Leisure Way, the licensing sub-committee heard from a number of speakers.

The applicant's barrister, a Mr Charalambides, said that the council "had already considered the amenity of the site" through the planning process, and had "granted unrestricted planning permission for a restaurant and associated parking" which "indicated that the council accepted that this site would be operational for 24-hours a day."

A Suffolk Constabulary representative said that the police representation was about crime and disorder and the potential for anti social behaviour in this area.

Lowestoft Town Council objected on the "grounds of crime and disorder" amid fears there would be additional gatherings in the car park causing an increase in anti social behaviour, while residents cited an increase in litter, noise and light pollution among their concerns.

The licensing sub-committee concluded: "The sub-committee, having considered the application, the licensing officer’s report and the representations received from the applicant, the police and other objectors has decided to grant the licence as applied for."