A FAST-FOOD giant could be opening a new drive-through on a former colliery site if their planning application is approved.

McDonald’s applied for a restaurant - which would bring 65 jobs to the town - at a unit on Rockingham Industrial Estate.

The land, which is currently brownfield, would see a free-standing restaurant with drive-through facility, as well as car parking and a play frame.

This would be Barnsley’s fifth McDonald’s restaurant, adding to the chains on Old Mill Lane, Upper New Street, Stairfoot roundabout and Tankersley - the latter less than a ten-minute drive from the proposed restaurant.

Sixty-nine new vehicle car parking spaces are proposed within the plan - 47 car parking, three disability, 14 cycles and three motorcycle spaces will be added, as well as two grill bays.

As well as this, should the application be approved by Barnsley Council’s planning board, 30 full-time, and 35 part-time employees will be needed.

A planning statement from the application states: “The site is located off Dearne Valley Parkway, Birdwell, Barnsley and currently compromises an open grassland area.

“The site and wider area were subject to deep underground mining (Rockingham Colliery pre-1893 to 1980) and used for open cast coal mining (1991 to 1995).

“The site covers an area of approximately 0.51 hectares and is roughly rectangular in shape.”

A total of seven neighbours have been made aware of the application, with no appeals to date.

Public consultation ends on November 17.