McDonald's has been granted permission to open 24 hours a day in Watford, the borough council has confirmed.

Savills, on behalf of McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd, applied for certification that “unrestricted trading operations" would be lawful for its location at 331 St Albans Road.

After being submitted in February, the planning application was approved this morning (April 22).

According to a covering letter, the building was built as The Hertfordshire Arms pub in 1932 but it was not possible to find the original permission documents for the site. It was then converted to a McDonald’s in the late 90s without the need for planning permission or a formal change of use.

The application therefore suggested that because no formal planning conditions restricting the operating hours were made, or at least could be found, the council should certify that the location can be run 24 hours a day.

The certificate of lawful development published today said: “The 24-hour trading of the restaurant would be lawful within the meaning of S192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) as no planning restriction to hours of operation exists to the contrary.”

The restaurant is currently open from 5am to midnight each day. McDonald's has been contacted for details of how it may plan to amend this. Update to follow.