Fast food giant McDonald’s is making a return to Hempstead Valley in Gillingham.

It will be taking over the former Bird restaurant, located next to Frankie & Benny’s, which closed last December just a year after it opened.

A planning application was submitted by McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd this week to make shopfront changes, including new entrances.

The empty unit was being marketed by estate agent GCW with a rent of £75,000.

Earlier in July, Medway Council approved a change-of-use planning application to allow the restaurant space to also operate as a takeaway.

The proposed opening hours are 7am to 11pm daily, although an opening date has not been revealed yet.

McDonald’s previously had a branch in a freestanding building outside of the shopping centre in the early 2000s.

McDonald’s and Hempstead Valley have been approached for comment.