KFC franchise operator seeks Castlebar drive-thru approval

KFC franchise operator MBCC Foods (Ireland) Limited has lodged a planning application for a drive-thru restaurant at Castlebar Retail Park in Co Mayo. The proposal would bring a 252-square-metre restaurant and 13 jobs to the Breaffy Road location, subject to approval by Mayo County Council.

A fresh application for a previously approved site

The application concerns a single-storey restaurant in the southwestern section of Castlebar Retail Park. MBCC Foods, which operates multiple KFC, Costa Coffee and Pizza Hut franchise locations across Ireland, is seeking permission to develop a site where a similar restaurant proposal was approved in 2018.

That earlier permission was not implemented and subsequently expired. According to the applicant, the current proposal is closely based on the development previously approved by Mayo County Council.

The distinction matters: this is a new planning application, rather than confirmation that construction is beginning or that a restaurant opening has been scheduled. The earlier approval provides background to the site, but the current proposal remains subject to the council’s decision.

For Ireland’s franchise community, the application offers a specific example of a multi-brand operator returning to a previously considered location. Its significance lies in the proposed Castlebar development, rather than any announcement of a wider expansion programme.

Restaurant layout and proposed operating hours

The planned restaurant would have a dedicated drive-thru circulation lane approximately 3.3 metres wide. A service hatch and canopy are proposed for the building’s northwestern elevation, forming part of the layout submitted with the application.

The restaurant’s proposed floor area is 252 square metres. Alongside the building and vehicle route, the development would involve removing existing parking spaces near the locations currently occupied by Right Price Tiles and Halford.

The application sets out proposed opening hours of 8am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm on Saturdays, and 10am to 6pm on Sundays. These are the hours put forward by the applicant, not confirmed trading hours for an approved restaurant.

MBCC Foods states that the unit would provide employment for six full-time and seven part-time staff. The combined total of 13 positions is therefore a proposed employment figure attached to the development, rather than a report of appointments already made.

Together, the floor area, drive-thru arrangement, staffing numbers and operating hours give a more detailed picture of the intended restaurant than a general expression of interest in the town.

Parking and the case for the location

The proposal includes the removal of 52 existing car parking spaces. In its planning case, JSA Planning states that 342 spaces would remain within Castlebar Retail Park and considers that the remaining provision would be adequate.

That assessment is the position presented in support of the application. It should not be read as a conclusion already reached by Mayo County Council.

JSA Planning also argues that the restaurant would provide “additional employment and commercial activity within an established retail and employment area”. It states that the proposal is not considered to “adversely affect the vitality or viability of Castlebar town centre”.

These statements place the development within its immediate commercial setting: an established retail park where the restaurant would occupy part of the existing parking area. The parking changes and the applicant’s case on town-centre impact are important elements of the proposal, alongside the restaurant building itself.

Public submissions and the next decision

Members of the public have until 5 November 2026 to make submissions on the planning application. A decision by Mayo County Council is expected at the end of November.

The next milestone is therefore a planning decision, not an opening date. The application outlines what MBCC Foods wants to build and how it proposes to operate the restaurant, while approval remains outstanding.

Practical takeaway: Local businesses and residents wishing to comment should note the 5 November submission deadline. For franchise operators tracking Irish development activity, Castlebar is a proposed location to monitor—not yet a confirmed opening.