Newcastle faces takeaway ‘ban’ inside a 10-minute stroll of colleges

New takeaways could effectively be banned across Newcastle under a council anti-obesity drive.

Proposed new rules, to be considered by council chiefs next week, will prevent new takeaway restaurants from being granted planning permission in most of the city.

There are already around 1,750 takeaways and mobile food outlets in Newcastle. Around two-thirds of adults and 29% of children there are ‘living with overweight and obesity’ and rates are expected to increase, a report before the city council’s Cabinet has revealed.

Under the proposed crackdown by the Labour-run authority all new takeaways would be banned:

Within a 400-metre radius or 10-minute walk of schools, leisure centres, parks and community centres.

Proposed new rules will prevent new takeaway restaurants from being granted planning permission in most of the city in a crackdown on obesity (Stock image)

No new takeaways will be allowed within a 400-metre radius or 10-minute walk of schools, leisure centres, parks and community centres (Stock image)

In wards where more than 10% of Year 6 pupils are obese

In wards where the number of approved hot food takeaways would be equal to, or exceed, the UK national average per 1,000 population.

At small local ‘centres’ where the percentage of hot food takeaways exceeds 15% of units or 8% in bigger centres.

Where there are already two takeaways next to each other and where takeaways are separated by less than three non-fast-food units.

In areas where residents suffer unfairly from noise, parking, traffic problems and odours.

It means takeaways would not be granted in most of the city because the only wards where fewer than 10% of children are obese are Gosforth and South Jesmond. Part of the city centre, around East Pilgrim Street would also be exempt.

The report by planning officer Katy Deeble details why the councillors are being asked to formally approve the new rules in the Healthier Food Environments Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

It states: Obesity and being overweight continues to be a major public health problem. 

‘The council want to support and encourage people to take up opportunities to improve their health and wellbeing through healthy eating and active lifestyles, and it is recognised that multiple interventions are required to achieve this, including targeting the relationship between the food environment and population weight status.

‘It is recognised that planning has an important role in shaping healthy communities.’

The report continues: ‘People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Being overweight or obese can also affect mental health and lead to many other adverse impacts.’

If agreed the new planning rules would be effective immediately and apply to new premises and applications for a change of use to takeaways.

Although the economic and employment benefits of fast-food outlets are ‘recognised’, the ‘detrimental impact’ they cause has prompted the clampdown.

Alice Wiseman, director of public health for Newcastle, said: ‘The environment we live in influences the food choices we make.

‘Food served in hot food takeaways are generally higher in fat, salt and sugar and consequently they can have a detrimental impact on residents’ health and the quality of the local environment.

‘The council wants to support and encourage people to improve their health and wellbeing through healthy eating and active lifestyles.

‘In order to do this, multiple interventions are required including targeting the relationship between the food environment and the weight of the population.

‘Planning has an important role in shaping healthy communities, and this is just one example of how it can help in the fight against obesity.’