People in Oxford will soon be able to get their fast food fix in a new McDonald's restaurant after the American giant has been granted planning approval in Cornmarket.

In July it emerged that the multinational chain is to launch the new restaurant at 46 Cornmarket in the unit previously occupied by health food diner Leon.

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

READ MORE: New tenants take over community pub in village

After it closed in Oxford earlier this year, contractors working on site confirmed McDonald's has taken over the Leon unit and a member of staff said work was now taking place to redesign the interior. 

While the chain's head office has yet to confirm the move, it is understood that the existing restaurant near Carfax will close when the new restaurant opens.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Construction work has been taking place at the restaurant unit for months, and now the city council's planning department has given planning permission for work needed to revamp the building.

Builders at the site said earlier they are aiming to be ready for the new restaurant to open on January 25.

Planning permission has been given for changes to the shopfront, including alterations to the windows.

Permission has also been granted for the installation of a kitchen extractor fan, heat pumps, and associated work to the roof, although work on site is already well under way.

Contractors appear to have been making good progress, stripping out the Leon decor, and rebuilding the interior.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) "There's a lot of work to be done - that's why it is taking so long," said one of the builders said earlier.

"It's a four-storey building - the kitchen will be in the basement, the restaurant on the ground floor and the first floor, and the floor above will be used as a staff room and offices.

"The other McDonald's will definitely close when this one opens."

Planning officers at the council have not expressed any concerns about the work from a heritage point of view.

A report on the application says: "Officers have received no objections from heritage officers.

"It is considered that the external alterations would be imperceptible from the street scene and on the basis that the equipment is largely replacement it would not compete or detract from significant buildings in views from nearby towers including Carfax Tower.

"It is considered that the development would not be detrimental to protected view cones or internal views across the city from high viewpoints.

"The proposal would therefore not give rise to a harmful impact on the conservation area, which is a designated heritage asset or the setting of any nearby listed buildings."

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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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