DUBLIN, Ireland: McDonald's expansion drive in Ireland has hit a roadblock as two proposed drive-thru restaurants face appeals from individual objectors, delaying development in Westmeath and Waterford.

The fast food chain had secured planning permission last month for new outlets at Lakepoint Retail and Business Park in Mullingar and Waterford Retail Park in Butlerstown. Both projects were part of a wider expansion strategy, which also includes plans for new drive-thru locations in New Ross, Thurles, and Carrigaline, as well as a revamp of its flagship O'Connell Street restaurant in Dublin.

Despite receiving minimal local resistance, each of the approved plans in Westmeath and Waterford attracted a single objection—and now both have escalated to formal appeals with An Bord Pleanala, effectively pausing the projects.

In Waterford, Michael Feehan from Graigue Lower, Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny, argued that the drive-thru development "will fundamentally alter the nature of the retail warehouse park."

He claimed the project "is a single-use car-based development, not ancillary to any of the uses on the park or providing any synergy with the same."

Feehan also stated the proposed restaurant "will negatively impact on existing restaurants and takeaways in the general area including in particular those in the city centre and district centres," and that it "will negatively impact on the vitality and viability of the city centre and district centre drawing traffic into a facility on the periphery."

Meanwhile, in Westmeath, Ray Leonard of Kinnegad filed an appeal against the Mullingar development, expressing concern about its impact on local businesses.

"Notwithstanding that the development will have some function in providing food for workers on the estate, it will primarily function as a single trip facility aimed at car-based customers, which will negatively impact the commercial viability and vitality of the town centre and go against the principle of town centre first," he said.

Leonard added, "The development in question will act against the town centre first approach, which is central to any continued and sustainable development of Mullingar."

The national planning board is due to issue its decisions on both appeals in July.