Plans for new Mexican takeaway in Silksworth area of Sunderland

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has received an application for 2 Tunstall Village Road in the city’s Silksworth ward.

The address is part of a terrace of business units in the area and was formerly used as a dog grooming salon.

New plans include a ‘temporary change of use’ to a hot food takeaway, which is described in a planning application as specialising in “Mexican cuisine”.

The proposals, if approved, would include a number of jobs with two full-time staff, one part-time employee and one delivery driver.

A supporting statement submitted to council officials provides more details of the development.

This includes planned opening times of 5pm -11.30pm, Monday to Sunday.

Those behind the scheme said the development would not aim to “sell takeaway food to children under sixteen years of age” and that “all staff will have training with clear instruction and signage regarding this”.

It was also noted that the hot food takeaway would “only be open well after the local schools have closed and after the end [of] any school traffic”.

The supporting statement added: “I very much [hope] this application will help support the successful use of a local business premises and support the present local business community, particularly in such challenging economic times, Silksworth has suffered several business closures”.

Despite being a temporary permission, the proposals will be measured against the council’s hot food takeaway policy which aims to restrict such uses in areas with high levels of childhood obesity.

Councillor Patricia Smith, Silksworth ward representative, has already objected to the plans raising concerns about the number of hot food takeaways in the area.

Cllr Smith, in a consultation comment, said: “I am against this application it is practically next door to takeaway shops and we already have enough takeaways in Silksworth”.

A decision on the planning application will be made once a period of council consultation has concluded.

Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website lists a decision deadline of November 20, 2023.

For more information on the planning application or to track its progress, visit the council’s planning portal and search reference: 23/01954/FUL