Motorists travelling on the A303 through Somerset may have to wait a little longer before they can grab a burger.

McDonald’s submitted plans in November 2021 to build a new outlet on a vacant plot within the Southfields Enterprise Park on the western edge of Ilminster, not far from the Southfields roundabout.

South Somerset District Council approved the plans in March, with the new restaurant originally expected to be open by Christmas, given the speedy turnaround when a similar premises was approved in Wincanton.

However, the American fast-food giant submitted plans has now said it does not have an opening date in mind, and would not confirm when construction could begin.

A spokesman said: “There is no further update at this stage on this site, but we will update residents as and when.”

Unlike the Wincanton site, the proposed location of the Ilminster restaurant lies within the catchment area of the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site.

Following the Dutch N court ruling and subsequent legal advice from Natural England, additional mitigation is needed from new developments (whether residential, commercial or agricultural) to prevent any net increase in phosphates on the Levels – a decision which is currently holding up the delivery of around 18,000 new homes across the county.

The council did not stipulate any specific mitigation which would be needed on-site when it granted permission.

The business park lies a short distance from the River Isle, which flows into the River Parrett at Midelney pumping station near Langport.

The new McDonald’s restaurant is expected to create up to 65 permanent jobs as well as employing local builders during the construction period.

It will be in direct competition with the Burger King restaurant and drive-thru, located at the Horton Cross services on the A358 leading to Chard.

Under the approved proposals, South West Motorhomes will expand onto the vacant plot of land to the south of Costa Coffee (Plot 2) instead of the land to the west (Plot 4) as originally intended.

Plot 2 was originally earmarked for a car repair and servicing business, but the company that had initially expressed interest changed its mind as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.