KFC is coming to Tiverton after plans for a major new drive-thru restaurant and commercial hub on one of the town’s busiest retail routes were approved.
Mid Devon District Council has granted full planning permission for the development on land opposite Lidl on Blundells Road. The application, submitted by Clokken KFC, allows for “the erection of a restaurant/hot food takeaway unit with drive-thru, commercial unit, electric charging hub, car parking, landscaping and associated works.”
The 0.56-hectare site already forms part of the wider retail development that delivered the Lidl store. While the original permission included a non-food retail unit, that building was never constructed. Instead, the new scheme will provide a 190 sq m drive-thru restaurant and a 120 sq m commercial unit.
Planners concluded that the proposal is “an appropriate commercial use for this site” when assessed against the Local Plan as a whole. The council said the development “is not considered to impact detrimentally on the viability or vitality of the town centre with sequential tests met” and that the restaurant “will contribute to customer choice within Tiverton with a limited impact on the existing traders.”
Economic Development officers highlighted the potential employment boost. A planning and retail statement prepared by Savills in March 2025 estimated that “the development proposals would create circa 36 full/part time jobs with flexible shifts, and 6 Full Time Equivalent (‘FTE’) full time jobs in the commercial unit.”
They also cautioned that while the restaurant could encourage linked trips to the town centre, the “convenience” of a drive-through and home delivery service “has the potential to directly negatively impact smaller, local eateries and takeaway businesses in the vicinity, particularly those in Tiverton Town Centre.”
The application drew limited public objection. One resident raised concerns about additional traffic on Blundells Road and existing speeding issues. Tiverton Town Council voted in favour of the plans, although councillors expressed concerns “regarding the potential volume of traffic at peak times bearing consequence on residents of Blundell’s Road, and other road users such as cyclists.”
Highway officers reported no significant collision pattern in recent years that would suggest the scheme would adversely affect road safety.
A contribution towards improvements identified in the Tiverton Town Centre Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan was also supported .
Because the site lies within Flood Zone 3, the restaurant must operate in accordance with an approved Flood Evacuation Plan prepared by Tetra Tech . The plan confirms the site is covered by the Environment Agency’s flood warning system and sets out evacuation procedures for staff and customers if needed.
A number of planning conditions have been attached, including the submission of a Construction Management Plan before work begins, controls on noise and odour, landscaping requirements, drainage measures and restrictions on future changes of use without further permission . The development is also subject to a Section 106 agreement.
Developers now have three years to begin work, once key pre-commencement conditions – including construction management and biodiversity requirements – have been discharged.
