A NEW McDonald’s restaurant is set to open in Darlington, creating more than 65 full and part-time jobs.

Building work has already begun on land previously used as a car park for the B&M store on Meynell Road, near Morrison’s supermarket and close to the junction with Whessoe Road.

A McDonald’s spokesman described the project as a “significant investment” for the brand and said that the restaurant will seat around 85 people and include a drive-thru.

He could not give an opening date, but said an announcement would be made in the next few weeks.

When Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee first approved the plans last summer, some concerns were raised about increased traffic in the already busy commercial area.

The council’s highways department did not object to the development but officers did put forward a number of conditions with regards to road layout, vehicle routing and pedestrian safety.

Ward councillor Anne-Marie Curry said it was a situation that she and her fellow ward councillors would monitor closely.

She said: “My view is the fact that it is going to be creating 65 jobs and potentially many of them will appeal to young people, that is great, especially if they are from within the ward.

“We do have concerns about traffic and about litter and we are hoping that we can work with them (McDonald’s) on making sure litter doesn’t become a problem.

“We have asked highways to monitor the car issue and we may be looking at installing a mini-roundabout; we know there is an issue and we are concerned about it but we will monitor it and call it in to the council if there is a problem.”

The new restaurant will bring the number of McDonald's in the Darlington area up to four, with existing outlets at Northgate, Morton Park, and further out of town at Newton Park Services, in Coatham Mundeville.

This easily makes it the fast food retailer with the largest presence in Darlington, with its nearest rival Burger King boasting just one town centre venue and KFC having two on the outskirts.

A council spokesperson said the authority welcomed the investment that will lead to new jobs being created in the town.