Blackburn's Popeyes fried chicken eaterie cleared for take off

The Louisiana fried chicken chain's drive thru and restaurant on the frontage of the Haslingden Road headquarters of the Issa brothers' EG Group has been granted planning permission.

The £1million plus outlet close to the M65's Junction 5 will employ more than 50 full and part-time staff.

The planning application for the new development was submitted in February by EG On The Move Ltd, the petrol forecourt and convenience store arm of the business owned and run by Zuber Issa.

Now Blackburn with Darwen has approved it with 16 conditions, work on the drive thru/restaurant on a currently landscaped area in front of EG Group's Waterside HQ building will begin shortly with a scheduled completion date later this year.

The outlet is expected to offer Halal chicken.

The proposal follows the successful opening of two other branches of the New Orleans-based Popeyes in Leeds and Wakefield by EG On The Move Ltd late last year.

Popeyes, a favourite with celebs, from Kim Kardashian to Cardi B, is famous for its classic chicken sandwich.

The wide-ranging menu also offers cajun fries, deluxe chicken sandwich, milkshakes, tubs of mac and cheese and buffalo hot wings.

It also offers Southern US-style biscuits with gravy or Nutella, and a British breakfast with a Louisiana-style twist, such as a big cajun breakfast roll and cajun hash browns as well as a children's menu including a 2 Tender Kids Meal.

A branch of Popeyes which opened in Bury New Road. Salford, in May last year proved an instant success with cars and customers queuing up for 25 hours be first in the queue on day one.

EG On The Move Ltd's development projects director Alex Kenwright has welcomed the approval.

He said: "EG On The Move are delighted with the grant of planning permission. 

"We will now look to deliver this exciting new restaurant and hope to open it later this year."

A planning officer's report recommending approval said: "As the site is unallocated for any specific purpose, the spatial principle of the development is found to be acceptable.

"As a drive through restaurant, the proposal includes a significant hot food takeaway element.

"Although not explicit to the application, it is understood that the site would be occupied by Popeyes, a fried chicken outlet.

"However two drive through restaurants within the EG land holding benefit from an extent permission.

"Accordingly, this fall back position overrides the health policy conflict.

"The proposed building is of an acceptable scale and appearance within the local context."

The new Popeye's is on a main arterial road from Blackburn town centre to the M65 Junction 5 at Guide both of which are undergoing major improvements by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Popeyes now has more than 50 UK outlets after branched out in the country in 2021.