Plans to turn a commercial unit in Headstone Lane into a vegetarian hot food takeaway have been refused by Harrow Council.
The application concerned 350 Headstone Lane and proposed a new business called DADA’S – Pocket Friendly Student’s Vegetarian Canteen. Plans included a commercial kitchen, extraction system, air conditioning and a small side extension to the building, a former off-licence that has been vacant for several years.
Planning documents said the takeaway would have operated from midday until 10pm, seven days a week, serving freshly prepared vegetarian meals.
Schools were key reason for refusal
Council officers said the site is around 21 metres walking distance from Hatch End High School and 148 metres from Shaftesbury High School.
Under London Plan policy, new hot food takeaways should not normally be permitted within 400 metres walking distance of a primary or secondary school.
In its decision, the council said the proposal was in “too close proximity to the nearby Hatch End High School and Shaftesbury High School, contributing to childhood obesity within London.”
A second reason related to the proposed air conditioning, extraction system and odour controls. Officers said there was not enough evidence to show nearby homes would be protected from noise, disturbance and excess odour.
Five objections submitted
Nine neighbouring properties were contacted during the consultation and five objections were received.
Concerns included extra traffic and parking, congestion during the school run, pedestrian safety, cooking smells, noise, litter and food waste.
However, the council’s highways team did not object, concluding that the proposed use was likely to generate a similar number of trips to the existing commercial use.
The applicant’s documents said the restaurant would serve vegetarian food only and had been designed with filtration and extraction measures intended to reduce cooking odours.
Planning permission was formally refused on September 10.
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