American fast food favourite Taco Bell plans to launch a restaurant and takeaway in Newcastle city centre, staying open until 4am seven days a week.

The Tex-Mex chain – which was recently granted permission to open up in Gateshead – wants to move into the empty former Poundworld shop on Newcastle’s Grainger Street, creating around 40 jobs.

The plans have been put forward by QFM Group, one of the largest franchise firms in the UK which operates a number of KFC, Costa Coffee and Taco Bell ventures.

The group has enlisted Beamish Planning Consultancy to seek permission from Newcastle City Council to change the use of the empty shop in the grade II-listed building at 84 Grainger Street, to allow it to be converted into a restaurant and takeaway.

The former Poundworld on Grainger Street, Newcastle
The former Poundworld on Grainger Street, Newcastle

The interior has now been stripped back to an empty shell and as the building is listed, the firm say they only want to make minimal changes to the shop front.

Back in 2002 an attempt was made to change the use to allow the unit to be used by a financial and professional services firm, but this was knocked back on the grounds that it would be detrimental to the liveliness and vitality of retail activity on the street.

This plan, the consultancy says, would make a good contribution to the area’s vitality.

The documents say: “It is anticipated that the proposed use will provide 77 covers, employ 15 full-time staff and 25 part-time staff, and open between the hours of 10.00 and 4.00 every day of the week.

Taco Bell's Nacho Fries
Taco Bell's Nacho Fries

“The key issue relevant to the determinaton of this planning application are whether the proposed change of use would have any adverse impact upon the surrounding area.

“It is imperative to note that the premises no longer fall within designated primary shopping frontage and instead now fall within designated secondary retail frontage.

“There is no reason to suggest than an A5 (takeaway) element would not make a positive contribution to the vitality and viability of the centre, particularly given the neighbouring units include retail units, hairdressers and nail bars all of which woukd typically close in the early evenings.

“So the introduction of a mixed A3/A5 use in this location would enhance the evening economy, thereby contributing positively to the overall vitality and the viability of the centre, especially in comparison to the currently vacant unit.”

The shop unit became empty earlier this year following the collapse of discount retailer Poundworld, which led to the closure of all 350 of its stores.