A MAJOR fast food chain has pulled the plug on plans to open a takeaway as part of a major town centre redevelopment.

Taco Bell, a Tex-Mex chain, won approval from Colchester Council in June to take over part of Angel Court, in High Street, Colchester.

The plans formed part of a massive revamp of the prominent building, by owners City and Country.

They bought the building from the council for £2million in 2010.

The overall scheme, revealed in March this year, included the takeaway, 31 apartments and a new advice centre run by the Royal British Legion charity.

Under newly-submitted plans it will now have 36 apartments.

Taco Bell was due to move into a converted part of the basement, ground and second floor.

It has not disclosed why it has suddenly snubbed the site or whether it plans to open elsewhere in Colchester. Instead, grillhouse chain Bill’s Restaurant, is set to take over the restaurant site.

Work on converting the building has just started.

A spokesman for City & Country said: “We are converting the former historic and listed council office buildings on Colchester High Street into a range of highquality apartments. The external facade will be revived and restored while internally the properties will be of a contemporary design, which will breathe new life into the buildings.

“In total, Angel’s Courtyard will now comprise of 36 residential properties and some commercial units.

“One has already been secured by the Royal British Legion, which is due to commence the internal works at the end of September."

The Royal British Legion’s plans for an advice centre were given the thumbs up by the council in July and it is set to open in the new year.

Three storeys of the building will become the new home to the RBL’s area office for Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, acting as a focal point for the whole of the region.

Bill’s Restaurant has outlets in Bath, Birmingham and Nottingham.