South Shields Indian takeaway refused planning permission over obesity fears

Earlier this year, plans were lodged with South Tyneside Council to change the use of a vacant shop unit at 509 Stanhope Road in the town.

This included a new hot food takeaway on the ground floor with a flue and extraction system to the rear.

However, the plans failed to win favour from South Tyneside Council’s planning department, which refused the application on December 18.

This was due to the plans clashing with the council’s strategic aims of tackling “unhealthy lifestyles and obesity.”

The reasons for refusal, published on the council’s website, noted the development was situated in the Biddick Hall & All Saints ward where childhood obesity levels exceeded the thresholds set out in national 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.

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 premises also referenced the “overconcentration” of hot food takeaways in the area.

Nationally, there are concerns that clusters of takeaways can be detrimental to their areas in terms of noise, odour and possible increases in antisocial behaviour

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.”

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