More detailed plans for the new KFC on Caernarfon Road in Bangor have now been revealed.
The new fast-food outlet will replace the Topps Tiles building on the corner of Caernarfon Road and Cyttir Lane, adjacent to the Bangor Tesco Extra store.
Plans for a new KFC drive-through and 65 seat restaurant were given the go-ahead in March – despite fears over traffic.
The planning application stated that 42 full-time jobs would be created with the 246 sq m restaurant open between 8am and 11pm, complementing the existing KFC restaurant on the Bangor High Street.
Gastronomy Foods – a key KFC franchisee – stated that other sites within Bangor were explored but were not proceeded with as they were unsuitable or did not have enough room for a drive-through facility.
Bangor City Council expressed reservations about the development, feeling it could lead to more traffic in the area.
City councillors, while backing the proposals in principle, stated they had “significant road safety concerns”.
On their decision to approve the development planning officers said: “The evidence submitted with the application from the applicant predicts that the viability of the city centre will not be affected and that the sequential test has confirmed the existence of an alternative site within Bangor that responds to the specific requirements of the national applicant / retailer.
“The location is considered to be in a sustainable location that is accessible for a variety of modes of travel. The existing site is brownfield / previously redeveloped site within the development boundary. It is partly located within the C2 Flood Zone making it unsuitable for more vulnerable uses such as housing.
“The proposal will involve the creation of 42 full-time jobs in addition to the existing workplace within the already established city centre facility.
“In this case, there is no significant policy objection and having considered the application and given full consideration to all material planning considerations (together with the objections), this latest proposal is considered acceptable.”
The fate of the existing Topps Tiles business is not known.
