Excitement is mounting as fast-food chain KFC works towards opening a new restaurant and drive-thru in Workington.

The company has been given the go-ahead to build a two-storey restaurant at Lakes Road, opposite the Derwent Drive industrial estate, which is home to several businesses, including Morrisons.

It says it is now working on some hurdles before building work can get under way.

Supporters of KFC have been eagerly awaiting news of the development. It was five years ago when the company first revealed its plans to build in Workington and a search was launched to find a suitable site.

In 2011 it submitted proposals for Derwent Drive but withdrew them the following year.

A year ago fresh plans were revealed for a site near the A595 at Lillyhall, then in February this year an application was lodged for the latest development, which is set to create 30 jobs.

Geoff Eaton, of @architect Ltd, which is working on behalf of KFC, said: “We are trying to resolve and discharge the conditions the planning department have imposed which include ground investigations and ecological studies.”

As part of the plans, a seven-foot monument honouring the Bessemer smelter used at Workington steelworks are set to be included.

It will be carved and sculpted in local limestone, which was used to smelt iron in the Bessemer process.

A report submitted to Allerdale council states: “The subject is a copy of the Bessemer smelter used by Workington steel works which is obviously a very important icon for the local area and actually the world.”

Councillor Mark Fryer, Allerdale’s executive member with responsibility for economic development, has welcomed the company’s move to the town.

“I’m more than happy to see national or international names come to Workington,” he said.

“I know people will travel to find the shops and restaurants that they want – we have to stop the drain to Carlisle and the other big towns and cities and hold money here in our economy.

“Workington is the retail hub of West Cumbria and I know many of our town centre businesses regularly outperform their floorspace.

“I’m looking forward to seeing more development and growth here in the future.”

A planning application has been submitted to Allerdale council.