New McDonald's restaurant uses Jacksons acoustic barriers

Background

We have worked with McDonald's and their franchises a number of times over the years, supplying them with our quality timber acoustic barriers to reduce noise around newly built and existing developments.

McDonald's has over 1,270 restaurants in the UK and employs more than 120,000 people. Looking to build over 300 more restaurants in the next ten years, a new restaurant and drive-thru has recently opened in Broadstairs, Kent.

The new store offers something different to customers, with digital drive-thru menu boards that allow customers to see exactly what they're ordering, and help reduce delays at the collection window. Additionally, there is a family room and children's play area inside.

Formerly the location of a different restaurant chain, the site is next to a residential area, so a noise impact assessment was an essential part of the development process. The assessment, carried out by Acoustic Associates SW Ltd (AASW), determined that an acoustic barrier of 2.4m high was required to reduce the impact of noise on the nearby residents - in line with Thanet District Council policies. The report considered the impact of various factors, such as vehicles using the drive-thru lane and the car park, weekly deliveries, and customers making orders at the customer order displays. After a later review of the report, it was decided that 3m high barriers would be better suited to protect the residents from noise, and offer more privacy.

The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) also explores the issue of sustainable development, a principle that underpins all government policy and should be pursued in an integrated way. It states that noise should not be treated in isolation of other factors, i.e. aesthetics and quality. With this in mind, the choice of noise mitigation solution needed to incorporate sustainability, protection and enhancement of the natural environment, and efficient use of resources and energy.