An independent Thai restaurant is the third food outlet confirmed for Walthamstow’s former Arcade site development, it was announced yesterday.

Yum Yum, which also has a branch in Stoke Newington, will join Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay, which was announced last week, and Nandos as the current food outlets to open in the Cleveland Place development.

Managing director Atique Choudhury said yesterday he had snubbed offers from across the UK in favour of opening the stores second branch in Walthamstow.

“Over the next five years this borough will continue to go from strength to strength and we wanted to be here and be a part of that,” he said.

“The regeneration of the borough and improvements in quality of life, which are already evident, give me confidence that Waltham Forest will continue to transform and improve even more, a process which I have already seen around my other restaurant in Stoke Newington.”

The lease has not yet been signed, but the council has welcomed the announcement.

An online petition was launched in support of the award-winning restaurant last year after it was thought they had been refused a place in the development in favour of more recognised restaurants and shops.

The public support prompted the council to meet with restaurant bosses.