American fried chicken chain Popeyes has its sights set on Christchurch

The fast-food outlet is planning its first South Island restaurant after arriving in South Auckland in April last year - to queues of fried chicken fans.

Tahua Properties Limited is seeking resource consent to build a drive-through restaurant, opposite the Durham Street New World supermarket - between Moorhouse Avenue and Bath Street.

It also wants to build a separate Starbucks drive-through on the same site - with both outlets operating 24/7.

Existing buildings on the site would be demolished to make way for the two restaurants.