COUNCIL planning officers are supporting an application for a fast-food restaurant to extend its opening hours in Darlington.

Planning permission for the KFC drive-through restaurant, on a retail park in Yarm Road, was granted by Darlington Borough Council in July, and work has started to develop the area.

When the planning permission was granted, officers recommended the restaurant should stay open until 11pm from Monday to Saturday and until 10.30pm on Sundays.

But members of the planning committee disagreed and imposed restrictions ensuring the restaurant was only open until 8pm Monday to Saturday and until 5pm on Sundays.

Now Yum Restaurants International has applied to extend the hours, to allow the business to open from 7.30am to 11pm on seven days a week. It says there is a strong business need to extend the trading hours to serve customers at peak times.

It also argues that trading late at night helps to reduce the risk of disturbance to residents through the business activity and presence of restaurant staff.

Planning officers have recommended the application be granted when the planning committee meets tomorrow.