Proposals have been lodged seeking to allow Hartlepool's branch of KFC to operate until the early hours of the morning.

A licensing application has been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council for the fast food restaurant at The Lanyard, near Hartlepool Marina.

Submitted by Alderforce North, it seeks to secure permission to serve “late night refreshment”, which is needed to offer hot food and hot drinks between 11pm and 5am, until 2am each day.

Currently the branch closes at 11pm, meaning no licence is needed for its operation.

KFC Hartlepool could open as late as 2am.

placeholder image — KFC Hartlepool could open as late as 2am.

The proposals describe the site as a “quick service restaurant with dining in, takeaway, drive-through and delivery facilities” and state it will now look to open from 9am until 2pm seven days a week.

Its current operating hours, for both the eat-in restaurant and the drive-through, are 10.30am until 11pm each day, while it offers delivery via various online apps and websites until 10.45pm.

The application outlines how various measures will be in place to ensure no issues arise at the site and licensing objectives are complied with.

This includes CCTV being operational at all times, providing litter bins which are emptied at regular intervals and ensuring facilities are designed “to prevent the transmission of audible noise or perceptible vibration”.

The application adds the provision of late night refreshment at the fast food restaurant would take place both indoors and outdoors.

Any objections to the application must be made in writing to: The Licensing Team, Hartlepool Borough Council, Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY or via email to [email protected].

This must be done no later than June 24.