A government planning inspector has supported a council’s policy of restricting new hot food takeaways in areas of high obesity by rejecting a planning appeal made by KFC.
The council had refused the planning application for a new restaurant and takeaway at Gateshead's Team Valley Retail World.
The council’s planning policy means all such applications will be refused in wards where children’s obesity levels exceed 10% or where the proportion of hot food takeaways is higher than the national average.
The inspector said: ‘I believe that it is incumbent upon the council to use those powers it has to try and address this problem. Its Supplementary Planning Document builds upon wider council policy to promote healthy living and represents a well thought through policy response to the proliferation of hot food takeaways in Lamesley and elsewhere across the borough.’
Cllr Bernadette Oliphant, the council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: ‘The planning inspector's remarks are a powerful endorsement of our efforts to improve people's health by helping to reduce obesity, and we welcome his decision.’
Photo: Bjoern Wylezich / Shutterstock.com
