Key Points
- Chick-fil-A could establish its first Greater Manchester restaurant in Ashton-under-Lyne, subject to planning approval from Tameside Council.
- The proposed restaurant would occupy the former Pizza Hut premises at Snipe Retail Park, off Manchester Road.
- CBRE Investment Management has submitted the plans and intends to lease the redeveloped premises to Chick-fil-A once construction work is completed.
- The development involves partially demolishing the existing building, extending the premises and creating a two-lane drive-thru.
- The proposed changes would remove 53 standard parking spaces, with the planning details also identifying 47 remaining parking spaces.
- The site previously operated as a McDonald’s from 1995 before becoming a Pizza Hut, which closed in October 2025.
- The developer says the redevelopment would bring a vacant commercial property back into use and create full-time and part-time employment opportunities.
- The Ashton-under-Lyne proposal follows Chick-fil-A’s expansion elsewhere in the UK, including its first UK drive-thru at Hamilton Palace Grounds Retail Park in Scotland.
- Rotherham Council has already approved another Chick-fil-A drive-thru at Cortonwood Retail Park in South Yorkshire.
- The American restaurant chain has committed to investing more than $100 million in the UK over ten years, according to its previously announced expansion strategy.
- Further expansion plans include a proposed Nottingham restaurant at the former Footasylum premises on Clumber Street.
- No opening date has been confirmed for the proposed Ashton-under-Lyne restaurant.
Chick-fil-A is pursuing further expansion in the UK hospitality market, with plans to establish its first Greater Manchester restaurant through a new drive-thru development at Snipe Retail Park in Ashton-under-Lyne. The proposal, submitted by CBRE Investment Management, would transform part of a vacant former Pizza Hut restaurant into a two-lane drive-thru facility, subject to planning approval from Tameside Council. The development would represent another step in the American chicken restaurant chain’s wider UK expansion programme, following its recent drive-thru opening in Scotland and planning approval for a separate site in South Yorkshire. Although the Ashton-under-Lyne project could bring new employment opportunities and return an unused commercial property to operation, the council has not yet made a decision on the application, and no opening date has been announced.
What Is Chick-fil-A Planning in Ashton-under-Lyne?
According to François Lozano, Content Manager at L’Express Franchise, Chick-fil-A could open its first restaurant in Greater Manchester through a redevelopment project at Snipe Retail Park in Ashton-under-Lyne.
The proposed site is the former Pizza Hut restaurant, which has remained vacant since the pizza chain closed the premises in October 2025. The building is situated off Manchester Road and forms part of an established retail and commercial location.
The development is being pursued by CBRE Investment Management, which manages the Hampshire County Council Pension Fund. As reported by George Lythgoe of the Tameside Reporter, the property manager intends to lease the redeveloped premises to Chick-fil-A once the necessary works have been completed.
The proposal is not simply a change of restaurant branding. It involves adapting the existing building to accommodate the operational requirements of a modern drive-thru restaurant.
If approved, the development would introduce a new food-service business to Ashton-under-Lyne while extending Chick-fil-A’s presence into another major UK urban area.
The project also reflects the continuing interest of international restaurant operators in established retail parks, where existing commercial infrastructure can provide opportunities for new food and beverage businesses.
How Will the Proposed Drive-Thru Development Change the Former Pizza Hut Site?
The planning proposal involves several physical changes to the existing restaurant building and its surrounding area.
According to François Lozano’s report in L’Express Franchise, the scheme includes partial demolition of the existing structure, an extension and the creation of a two-lane drive-thru facility.
The proposed layout is intended to accommodate Chick-fil-A’s restaurant operations while providing a dedicated route for customers collecting food without entering the premises.
The development would also require changes to the surrounding car park. Part of the existing parking area would be removed to create sufficient space for the building extension and drive-thru lanes.
George Lythgoe’s reporting for the Tameside Reporter states that the proposal would result in the loss of 53 standard parking spaces. The planning information also identifies an overall provision of 47 car parking spaces following the changes.
Access to the proposed restaurant would be provided through the Snipe Retail Park car park, which is connected to Manchester Road.
The changes would therefore affect both the restaurant building and the wider parking arrangement within the retail park.
The development is designed to reuse an existing commercial site rather than introduce a restaurant on previously undeveloped land. However, the final layout and implementation will depend on the planning process and any conditions attached to a council decision.
Why Has the Former Pizza Hut Restaurant Been Selected?
The former Pizza Hut premises have a long history of food-service operations.
According to George Lythgoe’s report for the Tameside Reporter, the site originally opened as a McDonald’s restaurant in 1995 before subsequently becoming a Pizza Hut.
The property continued operating under the Pizza Hut name until October 2025, when the restaurant closed as part of a wider reduction in the chain’s UK estate.
The Manchester Evening News, in reporting by local democracy reporter George Lythgoe on 6 November 2026, explained that the Ashton-under-Lyne premises were among 68 Pizza Hut sites that closed in October 2025 amid financial difficulties affecting the business.
The closure left the property unused for more than a year, creating an opportunity for another restaurant operator to consider the location.
The proposed Chick-fil-A development would maintain the site’s established food and drink use while changing its physical configuration to accommodate a different restaurant model.
Planning documents quoted by the Tameside Reporter describe the development as an opportunity to bring a vacant restaurant unit back into active use through refurbishment, extension and conversion into a modern drive-through restaurant.
The documents also state:
“The site has operated as a food and drink use for approximately 30 years and is located within the established commercial environment of Snipe Retail Park, making it an appropriate and sustainable location for the proposed development.”
This explanation places the proposal within the site’s existing commercial history rather than presenting it as an entirely new type of land use.
How Many Jobs Could the Chick-fil-A Development Create?
Employment is one of the potential benefits identified in the development proposal.
As reported by George Lythgoe of the Tameside Correspondent, the developers say the project would create both part-time and full-time employment opportunities.
The redevelopment would also bring an empty restaurant property back into commercial use, potentially supporting economic activity within Snipe Retail Park.
However, the developer has not provided a confirmed employment figure specifically for the Ashton-under-Lyne restaurant.
It is therefore not possible to establish how many positions would be available or how they would be divided between full-time and part-time roles.
The proposed employment opportunities would be associated with the restaurant’s day-to-day operations, although the final staffing requirements would depend on the size, operating arrangements and customer demand at the completed premises.
The wider expansion programme provides some context for Chick-fil-A’s approach to recruitment.
In its official announcement on 25 September 2024, Chick-fil-A stated that its initial UK expansion programme was expected to create approximately 400 jobs across its planned restaurant locations.
The company also explained that its restaurants would use locally operated business models, with local owner-operators playing an active role in running their establishments.
These wider employment commitments should not, however, be interpreted as a confirmed recruitment target for the proposed Ashton-under-Lyne site.
How Does the Ashton-under-Lyne Proposal Fit Into Chick-fil-A’s UK Expansion?
The proposed Greater Manchester restaurant forms part of Chick-fil-A’s broader effort to establish a presence in the UK hospitality sector.
The company announced its intention to enter the UK market in September 2023, with plans to open five restaurants during its first two years and invest more than $100 million over ten years.
In a subsequent announcement on 25 September 2024, the company identified Belfast, Leeds, Liverpool and London as its initial UK locations.
According to Chick-fil-A’s official announcement, the investment programme was intended to support the development of its UK restaurant network and create employment opportunities.
The chain returned to the UK market with its Leeds restaurant in 2025, followed by further expansion into other locations.
François Lozano of L’Express Franchise reported that the company had established restaurants in London, Leeds and Liverpool, alongside additional locations in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The publication also highlighted the company’s position as one of the largest quick-service restaurant businesses in the United States, operating more than 3,000 locations.
The proposed Ashton-under-Lyne restaurant would extend this presence into Greater Manchester, giving the brand an opportunity to enter another important regional market.
The development also demonstrates the company’s interest in different restaurant formats, particularly drive-thru operations alongside conventional restaurant locations.
What Is Happening With Chick-fil-A’s Other UK Drive-Thru Developments?
The Ashton-under-Lyne proposal is not the only drive-thru development associated with Chick-fil-A’s UK expansion.
The company has also progressed plans in Rotherham and opened its first UK drive-thru in Scotland.
Has Chick-fil-A Received Planning Approval for Its Rotherham Restaurant?
According to Tom Austen of Rothbiz, Rotherham Council approved Chick-fil-A’s proposed drive-thru development at Cortonwood Retail Park on 7 October 2026.
The development will convert an existing restaurant building into a drive-thru restaurant, making it the chain’s first branch in South Yorkshire.
The planning application covers a restaurant measuring approximately 4,000 square feet, alongside a 300-square-foot extension and external alterations.
The approved proposal also includes the creation of a drive-thru lane, changes to the car park, a bin store, external plant and alterations to vehicular access.
The original plans were amended after concerns that the proposed drive-thru lane could effectively create a dead end in the car park to the south-west.
Rotherham Council officers considered the revised arrangements alongside noise and odour impact assessments before granting conditional planning approval.
An important element of the Rotherham development is the drive-thru service model that Chick-fil-A intends to introduce.
According to Tom Austen’s report in Rothbiz, staff will take customer orders face to face using handheld tablets rather than relying exclusively on a traditional speaker system.
Joanna Symonds, Head of UK Operations at Chick-fil-A, explained the company’s approach:
“Much more than a new level of convenience, the drive-thru extends our signature hospitality into a new service channel, bringing together innovation, quality food and genuine personal connection.”
Her statement highlights the company’s intention to combine operational convenience with direct interaction between employees and customers.
The Rotherham development also involves the reuse of a former Pizza Hut restaurant, following the closure of the premises after a UK operator of the brand entered administration.
What Is the Significance of Chick-fil-A’s Hamilton Drive-Thru?
Chick-fil-A has also established its first UK drive-thru at Hamilton Palace Grounds Retail Park in Scotland.
As reported by François Lozano of L’Express Franchise, the Hamilton restaurant occupies a former KFC drive-thru site and represents the chain’s first restaurant in Scotland as well as its first UK drive-thru operation.
The company indicated that the restaurant would create approximately 100 full-time and part-time jobs.
The premises also include seating for between 66 and 68 diners, combining a conventional restaurant experience with drive-thru services.
The Hamilton development provides an example of how Chick-fil-A is adapting its existing restaurant format to different UK locations.
It also offers an operational reference point for subsequent proposals, including those in Rotherham and Ashton-under-Lyne.
The introduction of face-to-face ordering using handheld tablets is particularly relevant to the company’s approach to customer service.
Rather than treating drive-thru operations exclusively as a faster method of collecting food, Joanna Symonds’ comments indicate that the company sees the format as another opportunity to deliver its established hospitality approach.
Is Chick-fil-A Also Planning a Restaurant in Nottingham?
Chick-fil-A’s UK expansion plans extend beyond Scotland and northern England.
The company is also linked to a proposed restaurant development on Clumber Street in Nottingham, where it is understood to be considering the conversion of a former Footasylum retail unit.
Ellie Hollinshead of TheBusinessDesk first reported the potential Nottingham move on 17 August 2026.
Her report, titled Chick-fil-A turns up the heat with Nottingham move, stated that the American restaurant chain was considering converting the former Footasylum premises into another UK location.
The proposed development would give Chick-fil-A an additional city-centre presence, complementing its other restaurant formats.
The report also placed the Nottingham proposal within the company’s wider expansion following its return to the English market through the Leeds opening.
François Lozano of L’Express Franchise subsequently referred to the Nottingham development in the context of the chain’s wider northern expansion programme.
Propel, reporting on 10 November 2026, also highlighted the proposed conversion of the former Footasylum premises.
However, the Nottingham development remains a separate proposal from the Ashton-under-Lyne project, and no confirmed opening date has been announced for either location.
Together, the developments indicate that Chick-fil-A is considering a mixture of retail-park drive-thru sites and city-centre restaurants as it expands across the UK.
What Is the Current Status of the Ashton-under-Lyne Planning Application?
Despite the progress of Chick-fil-A’s other UK developments, the Ashton-under-Lyne proposal remains subject to a separate planning decision.
As confirmed in François Lozano’s report for L’Express Franchise, Tameside Council has not yet decided the application.
This means that the proposed restaurant cannot be treated as a confirmed opening. The redevelopment, including the partial demolition, building extension and drive-thru construction, will depend on the outcome of the planning process.
The absence of a confirmed opening date also means that customers and prospective employees will have to wait for further announcements before making plans around the proposed restaurant.
The Rotherham development demonstrates that Chick-fil-A has already secured planning approval for another northern drive-thru, but that decision does not automatically determine the outcome of the Ashton-under-Lyne application.
Each development is being considered separately, with its own site requirements and planning arrangements.
What Could the Development Mean for the UK Hospitality Industry?
Chick-fil-A’s proposed Greater Manchester restaurant represents another development in the expansion of international quick-service restaurant operators across the UK.
The project combines several elements of the modern hospitality business model, including the redevelopment of existing commercial premises, drive-thru services, employment opportunities and the introduction of an established international restaurant brand into a new regional market.
The reuse of the former Pizza Hut property is also significant because it demonstrates how vacant restaurant premises can attract new operators without requiring an entirely new commercial location.
For property managers and restaurant businesses, this type of redevelopment can provide opportunities to make better use of existing retail infrastructure while responding to changing customer preferences.
The proposed two-lane drive-thru would also introduce an operational format that places emphasis on customer convenience and service efficiency.
Joanna Symonds’ comments regarding the Rotherham development suggest that Chick-fil-A intends to maintain direct customer interaction even as it introduces alternative ordering and collection arrangements.
These developments place operational planning, customer experience, staffing and hospitality management at the centre of the company’s UK expansion strategy.
For professionals working in the restaurant and wider service industries, developments such as these illustrate the importance of understanding changing business models and managing hospitality operations effectively. These areas are also relevant to professional learning and development through Hospitality and Tourism, particularly in relation to restaurant operations, service delivery, customer experience and the management of expanding hospitality businesses.
What Happens Next for Chick-fil-A in Greater Manchester?
The next major step for the Ashton-under-Lyne project is a decision from Tameside Council on the submitted planning application.
If permission is granted, CBRE Investment Management will be able to progress towards the proposed redevelopment and the intended lease arrangement with Chick-fil-A, subject to the relevant planning conditions and other requirements.
The project would then have the potential to transform the former Pizza Hut premises into a new restaurant and drive-thru facility.
However, several details remain unconfirmed, including the construction timetable, restaurant opening date and the number of employees expected to work at the site.
Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A continues to pursue opportunities in other UK locations. The approved Rotherham development, the Hamilton drive-thru and the proposed Nottingham restaurant demonstrate the different approaches being considered as the company develops its presence in the British market.
For Ashton-under-Lyne, the proposed restaurant could bring a new international food-service operator to Snipe Retail Park, reuse a vacant commercial property and create employment opportunities.
Nevertheless, the project’s progression will depend on the planning outcome, making the council’s decision the next significant milestone in the proposed Greater Manchester expansion.