FAST food giant McDonald’s is planning to open up a second Inverclyde restaurant — creating more than 65 jobs.

The company wants to build a new drive-through on a section of the Port Glasgow Tesco car park, opposite the supermarket’s filling station.

Officials say a minimum of 30 full-time and 35 part-time staff would be taken on ‘primarily from the local area’.

The proposed development would be two-storeys in height, have 187 seats and 34 parking spaces, including two disabled bays, two drive-through waiting areas and two electric vehicle charging points.

There would also be an outdoor eating area and a ‘pedestrian link’ between to the supermarket.

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have submitted a planning application for a new restaurant in Port Glasgow.

“If approved, the restaurant would create 65 full and part-time jobs and bring significant investment to the local community.”

McDonald’s already has a long-standing Greenock drive-through, just off Cartsdyke Roundabout, which was recently given a major overhaul.

The application for a second Inverclyde restaurant comes hot on the heels of a new Burger King opening in the Port on the former Clydeport filling station land right next to the proposed site.

Two years ago, council planners knocked back a bid for a car wash there because it would take up a ‘prominent part’ of the car park and have an ‘unacceptable impact’ on the area to the ‘detriment of the visual amenity’.

But consultants acting on behalf of McDonald’s say their proposals are in line with national and local planning policy and are urging officials to give the development the green light.

A statement by Suffolk-based company Planware said: “The design and layout of the proposal is appropriate in the area.

“Natural and neutral colours and materials will be used on the building and throughout the scheme to ensure the site integrates easily with the surroundings.

“The site represents an appropriate location for a drive-through restaurant, which will be well placed to offer refreshments to passing customers and those in the surrounding area.

“In light of the above, we trust officers are able to support the application.”

In April, the Tele revealed how four small retail units, known as ‘pods’, are also planned for another section of Tesco’s car park, next to the Port retail park.

Plans have yet to be submitted to the council.

The Port Tesco car park currently has 788 spaces and the drive-through development would take away 66 bays — eight per cent of the supermarket’s existing parking provision.

But McDonald’s would create 34 spaces meaning a net loss of 32. The application is now in the process of being considered by council planners.