McDonald's wins second planning battle with council

Burger giant McDonald's has won a second planning battle in south-west Scotland in the space of a year.

Last August, Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) approved plans for a second restaurant in Dumfries despite planning officers recommending rejection.

Now it has also given the green light to proposals to convert a derelict hotel near the ferry ports in Cairnryan.

Planning officials had also advised refusal of that development earlier this year but councillors said they were minded to approve it and it has now been given the all-clear.

The latest scheme will see the old Lochryan Hotel brought back into use.

Planning officers raised concerns that the drive-through would be "heavily reliant" on private transport and not in line with efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

McDonald's argued that it would reduce travel times for people in the area wanting to use its restaurants.

It said the proposals balanced climate considerations with "jobs, investment, and new amenities, bringing clear benefits to Cairnryan and the wider area".