Local Planning Guidance Note No 9 - Restaurants, Public Houses, Hot Food Take Aways

This is one of a series of local planning guidance notes amplifying local planning proposals in a clear and concise format with the objective of improving development control.

The guidelines which follow have been prepared and adopted by the Council to foster a better standard of development. By taking note of the straightforward advice contained in this leaflet it is hoped that developers will have a better understanding of the locational and operational requirements and implications of restaurants and take-aways.

These guidelines cannot hope to cover all areas and applicants and owners are advised wherever the circumstances are unusual to discuss their proposals with a planning officer prior to the formal submission of a planning application.

Background

Town planning seeks to control new development to prevent disturbance to nearby properties. Restaurants, public houses and take-aways may detrimentally affect the locality through disturbance caused at times when residents want to enjoy peace and quiet.

At these times, nuisance may be caused by the business itself (e.g., noise, smells from the kitchens) and also from customers congregating outside, starting car engine, opening and shutting car doors. Consideration must also be given to the parking, vehicular access and highway safety issues relating to restaurants, public houses and take-aways.

Hours of Opening

Whereas most businesses, shops etc., usually operate from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (or similar hours), food establishments tend to operate in the evening - often until the following morning.

Accordingly, it is often essential to limit the opening hours to minimise problems. However, one set of time limits would not be appropriate throughout the County Borough because areas vary so much. A local shopping parade with houses in the immediate area will merit much more restrictive hours than an area of the town centre which may not need any limits at all. Planning conditions will normally be imposed with the times in the following table.

General Location

Within Wrexham town centre certain streets are designated as "principal shopping streets", so restaurants/take-aways will not normally be permitted there since the Council's objective is to retain the retail character and take-aways in particular are often not trading for much of the shopping day. The surrounding streets are considered much more suitable for such uses.

In district centres and local shopping parades, they may be appropriate but the Council will wish to ensure that the number and/or concentration is not so great as to detract from the attractiveness of the area as a shopping centre. To achieve this objective, not more than one third of the frontage in any street and no two consecutive units should be used for non-retail purposes.

Other isolated shopping units may fulfil an important role in providing for local needs (the 'corner shop'), such units will only be suitable if the local need is provided elsewhere in close proximity.

Parking and Access

Many of these businesses will rely on car-borne trade. In the case of restaurants adequate off-street parking will be essential. The location of the parking must be such that activity on the car park and vehicles leaving the area does not cause noise nuisance to nearby property. There may be cases where a car park belonging to some other business (e.g. an office) is vacant in the evening and could be made available. In this case, the hours of use may have to be restricted accordingly.

Take-aways rely on much shorter stay parking. To be effective it must be very close to the property and readily accessible (eg a lay-by in front). A rear service yard or a public car park some distance away is unlikely to be used. Properties on double yellow lines are unsuitable.

For further information contact:

Chief Planning Officer, Lambpit Street, PO Box 1290, Wrexham, LL11 1WL.

Email: Planning@wrexham.gov.uk

Tel: (01978) 292017
Fax: (01978) 292502

Restaurants, Public Houses, Hot Food Take-Aways
Adopted October 1994

LPG Note 9 - Restaurants, Public Houses, Hot Food Take Aways

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