Nearly five years on, empty Sunderland city centre KFC to reopen as something very different

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has approved an application for a commercial unit at Market Square, which sits adjacent to Costa and near The Bridges shopping centre.

The unit previously operated as a KFC hot food takeaway but has been vacant for years.

Plans from Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Ltd submitted earlier this year (2025) sought permission to convert the unit into a betting shop operating under the Betfred brand, along with new signage and ‘minor refurbishment works.’

An application form submitted to council officials at the time said the development would include six full-time equivalent employees with opening hours of 8am-10pm, Monday to Saturday and 9am-10pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

A supporting planning statement also confirmed the plans would facilitate the relocation of an existing Betfred premises at 57 Fawcett Street and would “therefore not result in any additional bookmakers’ business within the city centre.”

After considering the planning application and assessing it against planning policies, Sunderland City Council’s planning department approved it on November 26, 2025.

Council planners, in a decision report, said the principle of the development was acceptable and would “not result in the loss of a retail space”.

It was noted that the submitted designs showed the proposed shop front was “of a high-quality design and in keeping with the existing street scene”.

During a council public consultation exercise on the plans, there were no objections or representations received by neighbours or councillors.

Council planning documents also noted that the host property had been vacant for around five years, passing a council policy test proving it had been “marketed unsuccessfully for a period of more than 24 months”.

The council decision report added: “Given the limited extent of change to the appearance of the shop front brought about by the proposal, it is considered that in terms of design and amenity the alterations are acceptable and is not considered to form an incongruous feature within the street scene, particularly given the commercial nature of the properties within the surrounding area.

“Overall, the proposal is considered acceptable in principle, and unlikely to result in any serious detriment to highway safety, the amenity of the locality or the visual amenities of the host property and the street scene in general.”

Those behind the scheme for the Market Square unit said it had been vacant since the closure of KFC at the site in early 2021.

It was noted that the unit had been promoted nationally and locally for more than four years with “no positive meaningful enquiries until Betfred”.

Council planning documents state that an advertisement consent application for the site was approved in October, 2025.

Planning documents from the applicant also noted Betfred had applied for the “required licensing for the application unit” and were “lawfully required to revoke their current licence for Unit 2, 57 Fawcett Street once they vacate this unit”.

It was argued that relocating the existing Betfred to Market Square would “continue to supply employment in the area” and “represents a suitable use for the vacant unit”.

The applicant’s planning statement adds: “The relocation of the Betfred into the vacant hot food takeaway unit would not only provide a strong shop front into the city centre but would also free up the existing Betfred unit for marketing to potential operators as a retail unit within a secondary frontage.

“This would improve the vitality and viability of the city centre as it would see both units in use, improving the character of the area.”

Under planning conditions, the development must be brought forward within three years.

For more information on the plan and council decision, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website and search reference: 25/01870/FUL

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