RESTAURANT chain KFC has revealed its new drive-thru on the edge of Colchester will open in the spring.

In 2018, councillors threw out the bid for land at Ipswich Road, amid concerns it was too close to an historic cottage and a Premier Inn hotel.

This was despite planners at Tendring Council recommending it should be approved.

KFC appealed against the decision to refuse permission and in March last year an inspector ruled in its favour.

The fast food giant has spent more than five years – and two planning applications – battling to get the drive-thru given the green light.

Machinery has now been seen on the site after the chain was given the go ahead to start work.

A KFC spokesperson said: “KFC Ardleigh is a go! We’ll be winging our way to you this spring – watch this space.”

Applications submitted last year show building work is expected to take 18 weeks.

Workmen will be on site from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

No work will be carried out on Sundays or bank holidays.

Plans for the scheme previously went “undetermined” by Tendring Council in 2013 and were subsequently thrown out by an inspector.

The most recent application was rejected because the council said hotel customers and a nearby homeowner would be adversely affected by cars using the drive-thru order system.

But the planning inspector found the noise levels from the planned restaurant would be below existing noise

levels from traffic on Ipswich Road.

KFC has previously said the drive-thru will create about 45 jobs.