Hopes for a KFC fast-food outlet in Fort William were brought back to the fore yesterday as it emerged plans have been submitted for a restaurant and drive-through on the same site as a previous application.
If given the green light, the building would be constructed on part of the former garden centre land at Nevis Square on the town’s North Road where KFC planned to build three years ago.
Work has already started on the other side of the ground – owned by the same applicant – to build a Costa Coffee restaurant which will also have a drive-through on the site.
If Highland Council gives the plan the go-ahead, the two would be next door to each other, separated by a road leading to the new facility’s proposed 25 car parking spaces. Also included in the plan is the potential for an outdoor seating area.
The applicant is multi-millionaire businessman, Michael Herbert of Kirk Bryson Ltd based in Belfast, who holds Europe’s largest KFC franchise.
Another of the Irish tycoon’s companies, Herbel Eastern, first applied for permission to build a KFC outlet on the North Road land back in April 2014 but, despite receiving the go-ahead, no work commenced on the site.
Last April, it was rumoured in Fort William that a KFC restaurant would be built, but a spokesman for the fast food chain said at the time it had “no specific plans” for the land.
Former local councillor, Thomas MacLennan, who was then chairman of the Lochaber area committee, said: “At Highland Council we can give planning permission to a developer, but we cannot make them go on to develop the site.”
A few months later in August, Mr Herbert’s company submitted plans for the Costa restaurant and drive-through and building work has started on part of the land.
Andrew Baxter, who was re-elected to represent Fort William and Ardnamurchan on Highland Council last week, said: “When planning permission is granted it lasts for three years, but construction on a site can be quite minor during that time.
“I haven’t had a chance to look at the plans yet, but while I would welcome any development which would create more jobs for local people and give more choice for residents and visitors alike, I would need to look carefully at the application first of all to see whether I would support it or not.”
The Press and Journal contacted KFC but a spokesman was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.