The government should follow the Scottish planning system and remove take-aways from the A3 use class, according to Halpern Partnership.
Halpern Planning associate director Nigel Bennett argues: “This would avoid the situation of planning authorities being unnecessarily cautious about supporting quality restaurant and café/bar proposals because of the current flexibility.” He added the concern is that the use may in the future change to a take-away, without the need for further planning consent.
Research by Halpern into the inspectorate’s shopping protection policy in England, revealed that take-aways were successful in just 33% of cases with open A3 use appeals achieving a success rate of only 27%. These figures compare with an 80% success rate for proposals for change of use to café/bar use and 67% and 50% success rate for pubs and restaurants respectively.
Bennett identifies a “clear pattern of desirability” emerging within the A3 sector. “It’s clear that hot food take-away facilities are at the least desirable end of the A3 spectrum, with inspectors making clear distinctions between the environmental impact of noise disturbance, litter and associated traffic.”
EGi News 07/12/98
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