A TOTAL of 30 new jobs will be created after plans for a Burger King restaurant in Redditch were given the go-ahead.
The fast-food giant will take a bite out of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre after Redditch Borough councillors approved a change of use application at a meeting on Wednesday (January 14).
The proposals include transforming three units on Kingfisher Walk into the restaurant which means Warren James and Brainbridge Opticians will be relocated.
The empty shops will then be merged to provide one large unit which can seat 80 diners.
The company previously had a franchise in the centre on the corner of Evesham Square, where JD Sports is now based, but it closed in July 2006 with about a dozen people being made redundant.
Ken Williams, centre manager for the Kingfisher, said the restaurant would be part of his plans to revitalise the centre which includes having the new Hub area which includes new restaurants Nando’s, Tinsel Town and Real China buffet as well as McDonald’s, Vue cinema and Pure Gym.
He added four manager jobs would be on offer, with a further 15 full-time positions and 11 part-time jobs available.
Coun David Thain said he wanted to commend Mr Williams for the work he had done in revitalising the centre but added he would like to see a salad bar open to offer a choice of healthy eating.
However Coun Joe Baker said he was concerned the Hub section of the Kingfisher was becoming a junk food area, while Chairman Andy Fry said although the shops were being relocated he was disappointed to see them go from the walk.
