A FRIED chicken chain is making another attempt to build a drive-thru in Colchester after previous plans were thrown out.

KFC has applied to Tendring Council to build a new restaurant and drive-thru in Ipswich Road, near the Premier Inn.

A similar application was made in 2013, but councillors refused it, saying it would be inappropriate and unsafe for the area.

Later that year KFC appealed against the decision but the appeal was dismissed.

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KFC has now submitted a fresh application, with some small changes.

A safer places statement said: “Care has been taken to provide a site layout that is safe to use and easy to negotiate for both customers and staff.

“All routes will be clearly sign posted for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers and the layout avoids areas of potential criminality.

“The site will be illuminated throughout for road safety and for the safety of pedestrians walking to and from the unit.

“CCTV will be used both internally and externally to discourage crime and vandalism and there will be a maintenance regime in place to keep the fittings in full working order.”

An assessment has been prepared by Beamish Planning Consultancy, who said the site has been vacant for many years.

It said: “These proposals both address and overcome the sole reason for the dismissal in May 2014 of a planning appeal relating to similar proposals.

“The sole reason for the dismissal was the proposal was considered to significantly harm the living conditions of the occupants of Lion and Lamb Cottage, due to the noise and disturbance associated with the day-today operations of the proposed development.

“The proposed single storey building would have a rectangular footprint and would be positioned within the north eastern part of the site.

“This differs from the 2012 scheme which also proposed a rectangular shaped building, but that building had a north/south orientation and was positioned more to the west of the site, much closer to the nearest residential property, Lion and Lamb Cottage.”

Unlike the previous plans, this scheme says no parking has been proposed along the boundary with the cottage.

Instead the parking would be set well away from housing.

The restaurant is likely to be open between 6am and 11pm each day, and would employ about 45 full-time and part-time staff.

The full plans can be viewed on Tendring Council’s website, the council’s planning committee will look over the revised plans in the near future.