Taco Bell in Ipswich Anglia Retail Park could be open by summer as renovations get underway

An American fast food chain could open in a Suffolk town by summer as work to convert a former phone shop is underway.

Taco Bell will open a drive-thru in Anglia Retail Park, Ipswich, on the site of the former Carphone Warehouse unit.

The fast food chain has been working alongside Ipswich Borough Assets, owned by the council, to manage construction.

Plans for the restaurant were approved by the authority's planning committee in August last year.

Councillors voted in favour 'in about 10 minutes', and the proposals were reportedly uncontentious.

When built it will be the second Taco Bell in Suffolk, with one already being in Lowestoft.

In addition, there are also plans to build one in Haverhill.

The Ipswich site will share Anglia Retail Park with other giants such as Costa Coffee, Tim Hortons, and KFC, and is located opposite the Asda complex.

The site had remained vacant since December 2021, when Carphone Warehouse left.

However, It will have to be extended to allow for the drive-thru to be built.

This will see the removal of trees, but the teams have planned to plant two trees for every one removed.

The eatery could also create 40 jobs in the town.

Colin Kreidewolf, the chairman of Ipswich Borough Assets, said: "New restaurants bring new customers, and I’m happy that Anglia Retail Park is able to offer such variety to its visitors.

“The employment of 40 members of staff is a boost to the economic growth of the area and with Taco Bell occupying a previously empty lot, this can only be good news for Ipswich.”