BIRKDALE Fair could soon get a new fast food joint, with a development application lodged that would see a McDonald's drive-through built in the carpark.
The application was put to Redland City Council last week for two buildings at the shopping centre on Mary Pleasant Drive and Birkdale Road.
One, to become a McDonald's store with drive through, would be located in a southern corner of the site.
The fast food store would take up about 430 square metres of the car park and nearly 80 additional parking spots would be added to the north and east of the site.
A 470 square metre building next to the shopping centre could house a medical centre and associated facilities like a pharmacy or gym, according to the application.
It would also have an ambulance bay.
Birkdale Fair centre manager Ian McCosker said market research showed the area was in need of more health and wellness services.
"Birkdale Fair, being the local community hub, are committed to providing the right offer to our customer base to accommodate their weekly shopping and personal wellbeing needs," he said.
"This also includes providing an additional complimentary food offer to our centre that is available and easily accessible to our customer base after hours, hence the recommendation to include a McDonald's external outlet.
"There is also the additional benefit of bringing a number of jobs to the local community in medical, office, retail and hospitality disciplines."
He said it would also benefit existing retailers by encouraging customers to spend more time in the precinct.
Construction would take place in two stages.
It comes as another application would see a KFC open just 800 metres further along Birkdale Road.
The two developments would bring the number of McDonald's franchises in the Redlands to five and the KFC stores to six.
