GLOBAL food chain Pizza Hut is set to open an outlet in a new development in Chorley town centre.

Planning documents have been submitted to create a Pizza Hut Delivery store in a vacant units in the former McDonald’s restaurant site on Market Street.

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A Pizza Hut spokesman said: “We can confirm we have applied to open a Pizza Hut Delivery outlet at 102 Market Street, Chorley.

“As the planning process is ongoing we’re unable to comment further at this stage.”

The development, which was left derelict for several years after McDonalds relocated, was refurbished.

However, most efforts to fill the vacant units have proved troublesome, with only Bubble ‘n’ Shake cafe, a milkshake shop and Flame Nails and Beauty occupying the site at the moment.

The building was transformed with a £363,000 investment which saw the end unit, adjacent to Gillibrand Street, demolished and the other buildings refurbished and split into the new units.

In May 2014, Chorley Council said that it was ‘very close’ to announcing which businesses would be taking up the units.

At the time it said it would ‘be looking to get businesses which will complement what’s already in the town centre, particularly the types of businesses we don’t already have’.

The Pizza Hut Delivery concept allows customers to order food online, by phone or in person.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Chorley Council leader, said: “This has still yet to be considered by our development control committee, which will decide whether or not planning permission is granted.

“However, it is good to see national chains interested in coming to Chorley.

“I believe the fact that they want to come to Chorley shows that they have confidence in our economy which has been, and still is, one of our key priorities.

“Getting the improvement work completed on Market Street was an important step in letting the units.

“We also have interest in the final unit in that Market Street development so we are expecting a planning application for that to be submitted soon.”

  • Pizza Hut came to the UK in 1973 and now has more than 700 restaurants and delivery outlets up and down the country.