Plans for new Taco Bell restaurant approved at retail park near Merry Hill

An application has been approved by Dudley Council for Taco Bell to open a restaurant in a retail park off Station Drive near Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Brierley Hill.

The plans will see the takeaway move into the former Carphone Warehouse unit next door to Costa Coffee, adding to a list of food retailers on the park which includes Pizza Hut and Tim Hortons, and would be the latest Taco Bell chain to open alongside the restaurant in Oldbury.

The proposal was approved by council planners on November 20 and says: “The proposal would enable occupation of the unit by Taco Bell, a well-established Mexican-inspired restaurant chain and would primarily operate as a sit-down facility with a takeaway function.”

The planning officer’s report said the proposal would bring the unit back to use and ruled that the plans would have no adverse impacts on highway safety, would not give rise to any adverse amenity and are considered compatible with the surrounding land uses.

The report said: “It is considered that the proposal would bring a long-standing vacant unit back into economic use, introduce a new operator to the centre, and enhance consumer choice and vitality during both daytime and evening hours.”

“The proposal is unlikely to generate unacceptable levels of noise, disturbance, or activity beyond what is typical for this location.

“In respect to all matters of acknowledged interest and policy tests, it is considered that the proposal, subject to the attached conditions, would not result in any significant harm to acknowledged interests and is therefore considered to be in accordance with the Development Plan.”