A FAST food chain is the latest restaurant to sign up to be part of a proposed leisure development in Stanway.

If the Stane Park Leisure Quarter is granted planning permission later this month, KFC will take over one of its six restaurant units - creating 50 new jobs.

Stephen Clark, managing director of Churchmanor Estates, the company behind the development, said: “KFC is very popular and will be a great addition to the Stane Park Leisure Quarter, where the Stanway community can come to relax, eat and socialise.

“We are thrilled KFC has chosen our site for its new contemporary design and interior.

“We’ve worked hard to bring a mix of restaurant options to the development which will suit everyone’s taste.”

KFC will join Nando’s, Bella Italia, Coast to Coast and pub chain McMullens on the development if it gets the go-ahead from Colchester Council’s planning committee.

The application is due to be discussed on September 17.

The final restaurant to join the development is due to be announced in the next few weeks.

KFC already has a restaurant in Colchester’s High Street. Last year the chicken chain submitted a planning application to open in Ipswich Road, Colchester, next to the historic Lion and Lamb cottage, but it was thrown out by council officers who said it could ruin residents’ lives.

Phil Speechley, senior property acquisition manager for KFC in the East Anglia region, said: “We are excited to be opening our second restaurant in Colchester and bringing the great taste of KFC to Tollgate and the surrounding area.

“Our new restaurant will also provide around 50 career opportunities for people in the local community.”

The main access to the leisure quarter will be opposite Sainsbury’s, off the roundabout which leads to the supermarket.