LOCAL chicken lovers will finally be able to enjoy a KFC – without a drive to Carmarthen – now that permission has been granted for a new restaurant to be built in Pembrokeshire.

The drive thru will be built on the soon to be demolished training centre on London Road, opposite the entrance to Tesco supermarket in Pembroke Dock.

The new development will require 25 full time employees, a planning application document stated.

But even though work has not started on the new food outlet, jobs are already being advertised online.

A planning application was submitted last year by Euro Garages Group for a drive thru restaurant in Pembroke Dock has been given full approval by Pembrokeshire County Council officers.

Finger licking good – local chicken lovers will be pleased (File photo)

Pembrokeshire County Council said in their report: “This full planning application seeks permission for the demolition of the existing structures on the site and the erection of a drive thru and associated development.”

In reaching their decision council planners said: “The proposal would result in the delivery of new food and drink retail development that would have positive economic and social impacts through the provision of a new facility.

“In addition there would be no adverse environmental impacts due to construction to improved environmental standards and the site’s sustainable location.

“Given the length of time the training centre has been vacant (in excess of 5 years) and the subsequent retail planning permission the loss of this facility has previously been established.

“The proposed development is located within Pembroke Dock, and due to the fact there are no existing facilities with drive thru within the town
centre, the direct impact is likely to be limited and therefore the proposed use would not impact negatively on the vitality and viability of any Town or Local Retail Centre.”

Haverfordwest and Pembroke are two areas that KFC has recently listed as targets for expansion.

Speaking last year a spokesman for KFC said Pembroke Dock was one of their target locations, bit said “it was not a guarantee” that any store would open.

They said: “We always have a list of areas where we’re on the lookout for new restaurants. We know there’s loads of chicken lovers out there waiting patiently for the Colonel to arrive in their town so watch this space.”

KFC also said: “We have bold ambitions to have over 1,000 stores in the UK and Ireland by 2020 and we are looking to build over 50 new stores a year.”

Publicity of the application was undertaken, and three letters of representation were received objecting to the proposed development. Objections included there being no access statement or traffic management proposal. There were fears about the impact on the highway network, and alleged lack of detail about the specifics of the site occupant (The application does not mention KFC and the council report describes the project as a coffee shop).

Traffic concerns: Objectors said there was no traffic management plan for the new development, which could be very popular (File photo)

There were concerns about low level wage nature of the job creation as a result of the development.

One objector argued that there should be retention and reuse of the existing building rather than demolition. There are concerns over increased litter, and one correspondent said that the development should incorporate use of renewable energy.

Pembroke Dock Town Council also objected to the development.

In March 2020, planning applicant Euro Garages Group became KFC’s largest franchisee in Europe through the acquisition of 145 KFC outlets in the UK and Ireland. The application was given full approval on December 22.

The picture at the top of this article is a photo of a new KFC store in Carlisle. According to the plans, the Pembrokeshire store will looks very similar.