An application has been submitted by a major fast food chain to takeover one of the empty restaurant spaces in southeast Ipswich.

Taco Bell, an American chain specialising in Mexican food, is set to take over the former Frankie & Benny's unit in Edith Cook Way in Ravenswood.

This will be the second Taco Bell to open in the town, with work ongoing on the Anglia Retail Park branch.

Frankie & Benny's and the neighbouring restaurant, Chiquito, closed in September last year, with both units left vacant ever since.

Taco Bell will take over the unit on the leftTaco Bell will take over the unit on the left (Image: Tom Cann)

In April this year, plans were submitted to Ipswich Borough Council to reduce the size of both units so that a drive-thru lane could be accommodated on each.

These plans were approved two months later.

More recently, work has started on the site to gut out the restaurants ahead of reducing them in size and making changes to the car park to reduce the number of bays from 95 to 20 electric parking bays and 47 normal parking bays.

It has now been revealed that Taco Bell will take over one of the units when it is completed.

Taco Bell will take over one of the unitsTaco Bell will take over one of the units (Image: Tom Cann)

The company has submitted a planning application to the council to alter the elevation of the building and to create an uncovered bin store/yard area.

Taco Bell will add to the existing eateries in the area, joining McDonald's, Burger King, Nando's, Toby Carvery, Harverster, Subway and Costa Coffee.

It is not known what the other unit, the former Chiquito, will be used for - with residents previously suggesting that it might be a better site for the McDonald's which is currently opposite the road.

Taco Bell will take over this unitTaco Bell will take over this unit (Image: Tom Cann)