Nando’s is planning to serve up its first ever restaurant in Perth.
Bosses at the South African multi-national fast food chain have submitted planning permission to the council hoping to reserve a permanent spot at Inveralmond Retail Park.
The flame-grilled peri-peri style chicken specialists would take over a unit previously filled by Pavers Shoes if given the green light.
According to the proposals, the restaurant would have seats for 82 customers and open from 11am to 11pm every day.
Perth fans of the franchise have had to travel to the nearest restaurants in Dundee, at Camperdown Leisure Park and in the city centre.
A letter submitted to the local authority by a Nando’s spokesperson said: “The enclosed proposals seek the change of use of Unit 5A to Class 3 use to allow for Nando’s occupation of the site, alongside permission for the installation of necessary plant and a bin enclosure to the rear.
The proposals will secure the continued occupation of this prime site through the introduction of a popular restaurant operator within this key location.
It adds: “It is also noted that the site is located within a strategic location and that the designated commercial centre has previously struggled with occupancy rates. The introduction of Nando’s to Inveralmond Retail Park will therefore secure inward investment and will uplift the offering of this destination, ensuring its continued vitality in unknown economic times.
“The principle of the development is thus deemed acceptable.
“The proposals have otherwise been found acceptable with regards to amenity and design; the plant and bin store are contained within the rear elevation and are limited in scale and amount and are of a functional design, thereby preserving visual amenity and noise and odour amenity levels.
“In the light of the above, the scheme will significantly enhance and widen the offering of the retail park, compliant with the identified policies, and should, therefore, be approved.”
A potential opening date has not yet been confirmed with the plans to be considered by Perth and Kinross Council in the coming months.
The restaurant was founded in 1987 in Rosettenville, Johannesburg by Portuguese-born Fernando Duarte and South African-born Robert Brozin.
Nando’s opened its first restaurants within the United Kingdom in 1992 in the west London.
The move marks a return to expanding the business after Nando’s was forced to temporarily close 45 of its 450 UK restaurants in August 2021 due to Brexit and Covid-related upheaval in the food industry, causing a shortage of chicken.
