Hetton takeaway plans rejected over fears it could harm area's health

Earlier in 2020 plans were lodged with Sunderland City Council to change the use of a former flower shop at 11 Front Street.

According to planning documents, the unit is currently vacant.

New plans aimed to transform the site into a takeaway with opening hours of 11am-11.45pm, Monday to Sunday and a new extraction flue to the rear.

During consultation, Hetton Town Council objected to the plans on several grounds with concerns over its impact on the area.

In a written statement, the council noted the “over provision of takeaway establishments in the locality” and raised fears about increased traffic, parking issues, litter and the “detriment to the Hetton retail offer” if the plans were approved.

Sunderland City Council’s planning department shared similar concerns and refused the application on Thursday, October 1.

While planners said the takeaway would be unlikely to result in highways issues, they concluded it would “impact negatively on local health.”

This included the plans clashing with a council policy aiming to prevent hot food takeaways in certain areas to help tackle public health challenges.

According to the latest childhood obesity data from the National Childhood Measurement Programme, the obesity rate for year 6 pupils in the Hetton ward is 20.3% and for reception pupils it is 10.8%.

Planners concluded that the figures exceeded the threshold set out in the policy – with the takeaway plan being “unacceptable in principle.”

A council decision report added that parking in the vicinity of the takeaway would result in disturbance to residents in terms of the “arrival and departure of vehicles, car stereos, voices and the slamming of car doors, particularly during the evening.”

It went on to say: “Furthermore, the proximity of residential properties determines that the proposal is likely to result in a serious detriment to the residential amenities of neighbouring properties by reason of noise, odour and disturbance.”

Councils now regularly use concerns over public health as a reason to block planning applications for hot food takeaways.

Sunderland has in the past been named among the highest areas for takeaway growth.

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