PLANS have been lodged to open a grilled chicken takeaway in Alloa town centre.

Hot Chicks Ltd has applied to turn a vacant unit into a Pepe's Piri Piri hot food restaurant and takeaway

The proposed restaurant would go into the former Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland charity shop on Drysdale Street.

A design statement claims the venture would provide a "family-friendly dining experience with family seating areas, providing healthy grilled food, as part of the new healthy style of living, something which is limited in the area and would be very successful".

Documents submitted to Clackmannanshire Council say the plans would bring "a well-established franchise business to Alloa providing healthy grilled food, with stores nationwide and international".

Drawings showcasing the shopfront reveal the red-and-gold livery of Pepe's Piri Piri, which has more than 100 UK restaurants including in nearby towns Falkirk and Dunfermline.

Papers for council consideration say the shop opening in Alloa would "inject money back into the community by providing jobs to locals and providing a healthy option for food" while regenerating the now vacant shop.

Further detail reveals this would amount to seven full time and four part time staff.

The design statement added: "The changes to the existing building would be very successful in this vicinity which will only add as a positive project to help bring up the surrounding area.

"We feel that all the requirements have been met and give a positive result to this proposal."

An objection has been lodged by a fellow takeaway owner, however, arguing there are too many similar businesses in the vicinity.

The comment said: "I would like advise that this application should be rejected as a neighbour [who owns] a takeaway shop nearby.

"I don't mind that if there is a new brand new type of business come in to this area but for the takeaway shop there are too much here already.

"I understand that the applicant is likely to open a business and make profit, but honestly there is not many people around this area and we have three to four takeaway shops here.

"It is difficult to make any more profit even they are successfully to start up a business."

Another representation from a nearby premises has also asked for due consideration to be made in respect of the installation of the proposed ventilation flue, to ensure it is high enough to ensure no odours will enter the business place.