PLANS to replace a planned Taco Bell with a drive thru donut shop have been approved by a planning committee.

In 2018 Bradford Council granted planning permission for a Taco Bell at Odsal Road, next to the KFC unit.

But the plans for the site changed - and the unit has instead opened as a Dunkin Donuts - just the third drive thru opened in Europe by the international brand.

Due to a number of changes from the original plan, applicant Chicken Villas Limited submitted an amended planning application for the site.

The application would allow the unit to operate as either a donut shop or restaurant/take away. It would also allow for the creation of a new order point at the neighbouring KFC.

The Dunkin Donuts opened last month.

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Several neighbours to the site had objected to the application, raising concerns about litter, the light pollution from the site, obesity levels in Bradford and pollution caused by cars visiting the site.

The application went before Bradford Council's Bradford Planning Panel on Wednesday morning - with planning officers advising members to approve the plans.

Planning officer Ross Hallam told members the new business was very similar to the Taco Bell that had already been approved - except for selling a different product.

An acoustic fence to prevent noise from spilling into neighbouring properties had been partly constructed, and the applicants planned to complete the work soon - members were told.

He said the plan was very similar to the approved plan - so much so that the applicants would not necessarily have needed to submit a new application.

Mr Hallam said many complaints had related to lighting at the site - but pointed out that an environmental health officer had visited the site and found no issues.

Speaking on behalf of the objectors, Councillor David Green (Lab, Wibsey) said: "I appreciate that this is is only a small step on from the previous application, but now the operation is up and running we are not arguing against a principle - there is evidence of the reality facing local residents.

"Lights on the site have been left on for 24 hours."

Referring to concerns made by residents during the first application, including light and noise nuisance, he said: "People were saying this will happen - it has happened now.

"Environmental Health officers did not go into people's properties - it is difficult to understand how they made the decision that the light isn't causing any problems."

He urged members to refuse the application.

Steve Simms, representing the applicants, said: "It is a new brand for the UK and my client is pleased to bring the experience to Bradford early - Bradford is only the third such drive thru in Europe."

He said it had created 35 jobs.

Members of the committee asked whether the lights on the site, including the illuminated advertisements, needed to be left on 24 hours a day.

Mr Simms said they could be switched off at 11pm.

Members voted to approve the new application, on the condition that planning officers speak to the applicants about limiting the amount of time the lighting was on.