Hole new fast food outlet plan for city

IT'S a dream come true for sweet-toothed fast food fans - drive-through doughnuts are coming to the city.

The US chain Krispy Kreme is set to win permission to open its first Scottish outlet near Edinburgh's Hermiston Gait Retail Park.

The application states that the Krispy Kreme unit is proposed to be part used as a manufacturing facility for doughnuts for more Edinburgh stores.

The application by Scottish Widows Investment Partnership Property Trust (SWIPPT), which owns the land and the retail park, is also seeking planning permission for a KFC restaurant and drive-through on the same site.

Lib Dem councillor for Sighthill/Gorgie Joanna Coleman welcomed the proposal and said she hoped it would attract smaller businesses to the area.

She said: "I think the Krispy Kreme restaurant will be an interesting family venue and because it's the first one in Scotland, it makes me quite proud that they're choosing our ward to do it. I'm all up for competition so I think it should be an exciting and interesting venture."

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The construction cost of the project would be around 1.4 million, with approximately 100 jobs created across the two restaurants.

Investment manager of real estate at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) Mark Briggs said: "SWIP is hopeful that planning permission will be granted by the City of Edinburgh Council in due course and that the council recognise the economic benefits that this project can bring to the area in terms of the creation of job opportunities.

"This planning application follows committed investment by SWIP to re-image Hermiston Gait Retail Park."

Krispy Kreme, which has branches across the world, produces a range of doughnuts, from original glazed to butterscotch fudge.

Secretary of Sighthill, Broomhouse and Parkhead Community Council, Keith Bell, said: "Anything that brings investment and employment to the area is welcome, and it would make the retail park a bit more inviting to other people."

A decision is expected to be made at the end of May or beginning of June.