New McDonald's takes shape at the former Pizza Hut on Shaw Ridge Leisure Park

Building work on a new McDonald's at 7 Shaw Ridge Leisure Park in West Swindon had reached the stage where the steel frame was up, Swindon24 reported on Tuesday 6 October 2026. The restaurant is going up where Pizza Hut stood until it closed in January 2025.

Swindon24 photographer Jason Spickett, who took pictures of the site, said: "It's surprising just how quickly it's going up."

When was it due to open?

Swindon24 said the restaurant was rumoured to be opening on Wednesday 11 November. That date was not confirmed in the report.

Where is it?

The site is across the main road from the existing McDonald's next to Asda at the West Swindon District Centre.

The planning history

As set out by Swindon24:

• Swindon Borough Council granted planning permission for the restaurant, takeaway and drive-thru in February 2026.
• Concerns about traffic, litter and noise were raised when the plans emerged.
• McDonald's wanted to open 24 hours. The permission at first limited opening to 7am to 11pm.
• After an updated noise assessment, councillors approved a separate application in July to remove the opening-hours condition.
• McDonald's applied for a premises licence to sell hot food and drink from 11pm to 5am, seven days a week. That application drew eight formal objections about traffic, anti-social behaviour and litter.

The report did not give the outcome of the licence application.

More from Swindo: Shaw Ridge and West Swindon.

Source: Swindon24.