FAST food chain McDonald's is moving forward with plans to change locations in Oxford city centre.

The American fast food giant is to launch a new restaurant in Cornmarket in the unit previously occupied by health food diner Leon.

The Leon chain sells 'nutritional fast food', has about 70 outlets in the UK, and opened its Cornmarket Street branch in 2016.

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Contractors working on site confirmed last month that McDonald's has taken over the Leon unit and a member of staff said work was now taking place to redesign the interior. 

The contractor added at the time: "McDonald's will be opening here but it's not for a while - it could be January before it is ready to open."

A member of staff at McDonald's near Carfax said its restaurant was expected to close once the new one opened in the same street.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) As contractors continue to strip out the former Leon unit, architects acting on behalf of the McDonald's chain have submitted a planning application to Oxford City Council.

Hertfordshire-based Scurr Architects has applied for planning permission to display illuminated McDonald's signs.

McDonald's has not yet officially commented on the move, but the plans clearly show the chain on documents.

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The existing McDonald's restaurant in Cornmarket does have upstairs seating, but it is mostly standing room only downstairs and the former Leon site appears to be a larger unit.

McDonald's opened its first restaurant in south London in the UK in 1974.

As recently as March, Leon applied to the city council for longer opening hours, so it could open from 6am to 3am seven days a week.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Planning consultant Planware said in the application: "The proposal seeks greater flexibility of operating hours within the city centre location.

"Other existing similar operators have far greater flexibility, such as McDonald’s from 6am to 3am and Kebab King open until 4am, as examples.

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"It is therefore proposed for the opening hours to be 6am to 3am to reflect similar premises.

"Late night opening would be subject to a licence, in line with the Licencing Act 2003."

(Image: Andy Ffrench) The application also requested a change of use from mixed use retail and restaurant or cafe to commercial, business and service, and or hot food takeaway, which may have been a sign that the chain was preparing to leave.

Leon opened in late 2016 on the site of the former HMV store.

It created 30 jobs and provided seating for 136 customers.

HMV returned to Cornmarket in 2021, opening its new store in the former Gap unit.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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