A FORMER Ashton-under-Lyne restaurant could be the home of an internationally-known brand’s first site in the area.
The redundant home of Pizza Hut in Snipe Retail Park has been empty for more than a year after being one of 68 sites that shut because of financial struggles.
Now, there are plans to tear down part of it and replace it with a new drive-thru for Chick-Fil-A.
Developer, CBRE Investment Management intends to lease the site to the chain once it is complete.
Chick-fil-A is an American fast-food restaurant chain that specialises in fried chicken sandwiches and other chicken-based meals.
If approved, it would be the first restaurant of its kind in the Greater Manchester area.
Their other UK locations include London, Leeds and Liverpool as well as two others in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In order to do this, a part-demolition of the existing building is required to make it fit the needs of the new tenant.
Some of the surrounding car park will also be removed to facilitate the extension and the creation of a two-lane drive-thru.
This will result in the loss of 53 standard parking spaces. – ut the overall parking provision comprises 47.
Access to the new restaurant would be through the car park of Snipe Retail Park, located off Manchester Road.
Developers say the opening of the Chick-fil-A will represent an investment in an empty property and see the creation of part-time and full-time jobs.
Planning papers read: “The proposed development will bring a vacant restaurant unit back into active use through its refurbishment, extension and conversion to a modern drive-through restaurant.
“The site has operated as a food and drink use for approximately 30 years and is located within the established commercial environment of Snipe Retail Park, making it an appropriate and sustainable location for the proposed development.”