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Taco Bell will open the country’s first drive-thru Mexican restaurant in Paisley after plans were given the green light.

The fast food giant will expand into Scotland by building a two-storey diner in the Phoenix Retail Park.

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It is the third new diner planned for the area – with Tim Hortons and Bella Italia already teed up.

Renfrewshire Council revealed the proposals in a report and confirmed they had been rubber-stamped.

It stated: “The applicant proposes to build the first ever Taco Bell drive-thru restaurant in Scotland in Phoenix Leisure Park.

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“The space will provide internal seating for 102 people, an external area to accommodate an additional 12 seats and also the convenience of the drive-thru facility.

“The site is in a highly accessible location, it is within walking distance of Linwood and the nearby business park, retail park and car showrooms.

“If planning permission were refused, the operator would not relocate to Paisley or Linwood town centres and would more likely seek to locate to another area, possibly outwith Renfrewshire.”

Taco Bell wants to set-up on a plot near the Showcase Cinema, between an Indian restaurant and KFC.

It opened its first Scottish outlet in a former bakery in Glasgow last month.

It serves a budget range of tacos, burritos, nachos and quesadillas.

The chain has 18 more restaurants in England, but this would be just the second north of the border and the first with a drive-thru.

As previously revealed in the Express, Canadian firm Tim Hortons wants to open nearby.

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It is ready to spend £700,000 to open on the grounds of St James’ Business Centre – the last remaining part of the Rootes car factory.

Around 25 jobs will be created if permission is granted for the development at the plant’s former front office.

Planners gave the go-ahead for a new restaurant to be built in the retail park in November.

Bella Italia will move into the 4,000sqft site.

Planners agreed construction should go ahead after studying a report sent to councillors.

Architects 3D Reid drew-up plans for the unit and insisted it will offer more choice in the area in a report to local authority chiefs.

It stated: “The aim is to create a new food unit which can complement the current list of tenants.

“The new pavilion will have its own sense of identity and a new point of reference for visitors by adding a new dimension to the existing shopping experience available.

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“Through considered material selection and design decisions, the retail unit applications seek to generate additional activity and purpose to new public space and new employment opportunities within the local area.”

Taco Bell opened its first restaurant in California more than 50 years ago and serves around 40million diners every week at 6,500 outlets worldwide.