WELLINGTON’S much-anticipated KFC restaurant will open its doors next month, developers an reveal.

Work has started on fitting-out the unit at Westpark 26, Chelston, in preparation for the colonel’s arrival.   Summerfield Commercial has negotiated a lease with KFC for the drive-thru at the front of the business park on the A38, less than a mile from junction 26 of the M5 and just over a mile from the centre of Wellington. Summerfield completed the restaurant, which will provide around30 jobs, at the beginning of the year but the company that had been lined up to run the drive-thru went into administration. Now plans for the KFC are back on track and Ben Trickey, commercial director at Summerfield Commercial, said it was good news for the park and the town because its arrival had been eagerly anticipated. He said: “We are delighted to welcome KFC to the line up at Westpark. The restaurant will be open to the public on October 31, 2024.  This marks the completion of the last of the frontage plots on the park and is a great addition to the mix of businesses and amenities.  With thanks to our agents Alder King and JLL for their part in this.” Sarah Rees-Davis, of KFC UKI, said: “We are delighted to be opening at the strategically positioned Westpark later next month and sitting alongside some thriving and diverse operators, and very much look forward to serving the local community.

“This is particularly exciting for us as Wellington marks the first of several openings across the South West over the coming years, as KFC look to strengthen their presence and offering across the South West.”  To date approximately 275,000 sq ft of space has been developed at the 40-acre mixed use business park since 2009, creating in the region of 1,100 jobs. The latest plans to receive consent are for two terrace blocks of mixed-use commercial units on Plot 19 which are already generating interest.