Cornwall could be getting another McDonald’s outlet as part of plans for a new service station along the A39.

Cornwall Council has received a pre-planning application for the development on land at Stratton, Bude.

The site, on land west of Atlantic Farm, would include a petrol filling station with eight pumps for cars, two for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and a shop, a coffee drive-thru, eight electric vehicle charging stations, parking spaces for cars, motorhomes, coaches and HGVs, and a McDonald’s.

A supporting statement said: “The A39 serves as the primary arterial spine connecting North Cornwall and North Devon, carrying substantial daily commuters, freight and seasonal tourist traffic. Despite its strategic role, there is a severe infrastructure deficit along this highway corridor.

“Across the entire length of the A39, there are currently only four official roadside service areas equipped and designated to accommodate HGVs – Carland Cross, Penhale, St Kew and Roundswell.

“Between St Kew Highway Services in Cornwall and Roundswell Services, near Barnstaple in Devon, there are over 54 miles where commercial drivers, haulers, long-distance travellers and tourists cannot access dedicated refuelling, EV charging, rest or heavy vehicle facilities.

“Situated almost mid-way along this stretch, Atlantic Farm, Bude, sits in the optimal strategic location for such a site to capture passing demand, plug this long-standing infrastructure gap and enhance highway safety across the regional major road network.”

The application states that the proposal offers significant traffic and environmental benefits for Bude.

It adds: “A substantial portion of motorists passing through North Cornwall require only ‘pass-through’ services, specifically fast refuelling, ultra-rapid EV charging or rapid food-to go. Currently, drivers seeking these basic facilities are forced to divert off the A39 into Bude town centre or nearby edge-of-town supermarkets.

“During peak summer holiday months, this diversion places severe stress on local town-centre junctions and residential roads, worsening seasonal congestion and localised carbon emissions. Atlantic Farm intercepts this transit traffic directly on the A39 before it reaches local streets.”

The application also argues that the proposal will not displace town-centre trade, but will instead relieve Bude of unnecessary ‘drive through’ traffic that “offers little dwell-time value to the local high street”.

The current McDonald’s restaurants and takeaways in Cornwall are located in Saltash, Pool, Bodmin, Fraddon, Newquay, Cornwall Services at Roche, St Austell, Threemilestone in Truro, Falmouth, Helston, Hayle and Penzance.

McDonald’s submitted a pre-application proposal for a new single-storey restaurant and drive-thru at Binhamy Retail Park at Stratton, near Bude, last year, however this was met by concerns over the proximity of that location to local schools which increased the risk that any application could be refused.

That particular application was also met with a petition against the scheme which was signed by well over a thousand people. It said of the plans: “The invasion of these chains often triggers a downward spiral for small towns, overshadowing local establishments and jeopardising the economic autonomy of local businesses. Our community thrives on the hard work of local businesses - they are the lifeblood of the high street and the backbone of our economy.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

For more details see PA26/00990/PREAPP on Cornwall Council’s planning portal.