KFC loses appeal against Porte de Namur restaurant ban

Fast-food chain KFC has lost its appeal against a ban on opening a new restaurant at Porte de Namur.

The American chain had wanted to convert the premises currently occupied by ING bank at 1 Chaussée d'Ixelles into a KFC outlet.

Ixelles town council had refused KFC's request for planning permission in January, ruling that there were too many similar food outlets nearby.

The firm appealed to the Brussels government, which has now ruled in Ixelles' favour. The fast-food chain can still appeal to Belgium's Council of State.

The municipality said there was already a "surplus" of similar restaurants within a 100m radius of the proposed site. McDonalds, Burger King, Quick and Hector Chicken, among others, already have outlets in the area.

"This is a problem that all cities face," said Ixelles mayor Christos Doulkeridis. "Obviously, freedom of commerce must be respected. But there are also issues about achieving a commercial balance within a neighbourhood. Clearly, we do not want the Chaussée d'Ixelles to become a fast-food artery."

KFC is looking to open 150 restaurants in Belgium. The first opened at North Station in June.