LEADING fast food outlet Kentucky Fried Chicken could be about to open up a new restaurant and drive-thru facility on an edge-of-town business park in Yeovil.
Owners of the Houndstone Retail Park, Legal and General Assurance Society, has submitted an application to South Somerset District Council's planning department seeking outline permission for Kentucky Fried Chicken to move to the town.
It is understood that KFC, as it is better known, had wanted to move to the town nine years ago but that application was turned down.
But now Legal and General are keeping their fingers-crossed that planning officials will have no hesitation in giving them the go-ahead this time around.
There is only one drive-thru restaurant in Yeovil at the moment - McDonald's in Lysander Road - and the applicants believe KFC could add much-wanted choice for the rapidly growing population of Yeovil.
There could be some objections from town centre traders and restaurant owners who might fear that the introduction of KFC could force shoppers away from the core commercial area of Yeovil.
But a spokesman for Legal and General said: "It is envisaged that the proposal will play a complementary role to Yeovil town centre.
"KFC restaurants are an established feature in many retail parks across the country.
"It will satisfy planning guidelines for restaurants at the Houndstone Retail Park and for Yeovil itself."
People who like the taste of the 'finger-lickin-good' fast-food KFC chain are expected to welcome the proposal with open arms.
Some nearby residents on Houndstone and Abbey Manor Park housing estates might, however, be concerned about late-night noise and extra traffic generated in the area.
But Legal and General, who have London-based Littman and Robeson acting as agents, commissioned a firm called Capita Symonds to come up with a noise assessment of the proposed new restaurant and a traffic survey.
A report, included with the planning application, read: "It is considered that the proposed KFC restaurant and drive-thru will not have a significant noise impact on the nearest residential properties."
The retail park at Houndstone - which is close to Yeovil Town FC's Huish Park stadium - already boasts stores such as Focus, Comet, Harvey's, Halfords, Carpet Right, Currys and MFI Homeworks.
The report stated that evidence suggested from other parts of the country that KFC's busiest time during the week and on Saturdays was after 5pm - when many of the other retail park stores were beginning to get quieter.
There is currently parking provision at the Houndstone park for 454 cars, but the possible introduction of KFC and the reconfiguration of the car park could see that number rise to 465.
