WORK is under way to build a new fast-food restaurant at a busy roundabout in Bradford, after developers won permission on appeal.

Diggers have moved onto the key Wiltex House site, formerly a police station and snooker hall, at the junction of Odsal Road and Halifax Road.

The fast-food chicken chain has confirmed that it is expected to be open to customers early next year. The development is expected to create 15 full time and 25 part time jobs.

A KFC spokesman said: “We are delighted to be opening a new drive-through in Odsal, due to open by early 2018.

“We look forward to welcoming residents into the restaurant and hope to have more updates for our KFC fans soon.”

It is two years ago that franchise group QFM was successful in getting Bradford Council planners’ decision to refuse permission overturned.

But the empty site, which is bounded by blue hoardings, had remained dormant until a few weeks ago. It appears that groundworks are now under way.

Local councillor David Green (Lab, Wibsey) welcomed the start of work.

He said: “The residents we’ve heard from, the people who are immediate neighbours to the site, say they are happy that the work has started because of the problems that the derelict site has caused them in the last two years, with issues such as fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.

“But there still remains some concern about the management of the KFC once it’s open, in terms of noise and traffic, which were issues raised at the time of the application.

“We hope that any detriment to the local people is kept to a minimum and we will be working very closely when it opens to try and ensure this happens.”

In June 2015, the Telegraph & Argus reported that councillors had gone against the advice of officers when they refused the scheme the year before.

They were concerned that the business would lead to dangerous traffic conditions as the site was so near to the busy roundabout.

They also thought that opening until 11pm, seven nights a week, would be detrimental to those living in neighbouring homes.

A report by planning inspector Phillip Ware said: “The Council’s objection to the proposal rested on the concern that dangerous manoeuvres might occur, however safely the access arrangements were designed and constructed.

“However, this was an assertion only, and was not supported by any evidence.”

The applicant and highways officers had agreed that customers could only turn left in and out of the site, by extending a central reservation on Halifax Road.

This was considered safe by Mr Ware.

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