Second takeaway refused over childhood obesity fears in South Shields' Stanhope Road

Plans were lodged with South Tyneside Council for a takeaway at 499A Stanhope Road, in South Shields.

However, the proposals failed to win support from the council’s planning department, with a refusal decision published in December.

One reason for refusal included the plans clashing with a policy which aims to tackle childhood obesity in the borough.

National planning guidelines state the planning system can play an important role in creating healthy communities, with evidence suggesting the type of food on sale nearest to schools may influence the diet of schoolchildren.

In the Biddick Hall & All Saints ward, where the development was proposed, childhood obesity levels exceeded the thresholds set out in planning guidance.

According to the latest figures from the National Child Measurement Programme (2019/20), 32.8% of Year 6 children in the ward were very overweight/obese.

It is the latest example of a takeaway being refused planning permission on such grounds in South Tyneside, with a number being knocked back in recent years.

An application for an Indian takeaway at 509 Stanhope Road was also turned down on similar grounds by South Tyneside Council in December 2020.

National planning guidelines state the planning system can play an important role in creating healthy communities, with evidence suggesting the type of food on sale nearest to schools may influence the diet

of schoolchildren.

A second reason for refusal for the latest takeaway plans in Stanhope Road also referenced the potential “overconcentration” of hot food takeaways in the area, if the plans were approved.

The refusal statement went on to say: “There are already three hot food takeaways within this relatively small block of properties on Stanhope Road, within the Boldon Lane District Shopping Centre.

“The proposed change of use of this ground floor retail unit to a hot food takeaway would result in an overconcentration of hot food takeaways in this area and further reduce the retail choice and retail function of the shopping centre.

“The proposed development would thereby result in a materially harmful impact on the vitality and viability of the shopping centre.”

The hot food takeaway application is the second to be refused on Stanhope Road in the space of a month.

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