Plans for new takeaway and restaurant in Normanby rejected

The change of use proposal for the vacant retail unit in the High Street was recommended for approval by a Redcar and Cleveland Council planning officer, but turned down by members of the local authority’s regulatory committee.

Applicant Raman Amiri’s bid to create a shawarma-related venture on the site of the former Jubilee’s card shop belonging to late businessman Kenny Surtees attracted 123 objections from residents, with ward and neighbouring councillors also unhappy at the plans.

Mr Amiri did not appear before a meeting of the committee in support of his application and to answer questions, while members expressed doubts about whether there was sufficient space in the end terraced property to house a fully-fledged restaurant.

What the report said

The officer’s report said: “The premises was previously operated as a card shop which fell within the E use class. 

“The use of the premises solely as a restaurant would not require consent as a restaurant also falls within the E use class. 

“The proposal seeks to change the use of the premises to be a mix of restaurant (use class E) and hot food takeaway (use class sui generis) which would suggest that the takeaway element would not be ancillary to the main use as a restaurant.”

Residents complained about an over-concentration of fast food takeaways in the area – the proportion of which would further exceed the five per cent threshold of commercial units in hot food takeaway use as per council policy – a potential increase in food waste and litter, and illegal parking, along with a desire to see more independent/general shops.

Normanby ward councillor Curt Pugh said: “Normanby High Street already has more than enough takeaways. 

“Residents repeatedly tell me they want a wider mix of shops and services, and the council itself has recognised the need to limit the number of hot food outlets.”

He added: “There are also serious concerns about the impact on nearby residents. 

“Cooking smells, extractor fans, late-night customers, and delivery traffic will affect the flats above and the houses close by.”

Public Health South Tees was another objector.

The council planning officer’s view was that, as the new venture was not proposed to be open beyond 7pm each day and not late into the evening like most other hot food takeaways, this along with the mixed use aspect, meant that on balance the principle of a change of use was acceptable and it would also bring a vacant unit back into use.

Plans don’t ‘add up’

Eston councillor Stephen Martin said: “We need more diverse high streets and just filling them with fast food outlets isn’t acceptable. 

“Our residents deserve better and the health of our community should be a high priority.”

Cllr Martin said the plans included no real seating area, in the sense of people sat at tables, with benches and stools instead.

He said the application did not “add up” in terms of space for restaurant seating as it was a “very small space”.

Cllr Martin said: “Is it a restaurant or is it just somewhere where you quickly sit down and wait for your food to come?”

He also said Normanby’s proportion of takeaways set against the overall number of available commercial units was more than eight per cent.

Cllr Martin also said while the proposed opening hours were 9am to 7pm, he questioned “who was going to be buying a shawarma at 9 o’clock in the morning?”

He said: “In three months time the applicant may have sought to apply for different timescales, for instance it may not open to 1pm or 2pm and then go onto midnight.

“Then we’d be in the same situation as everywhere else where lots of shops are closed during the day and then open up at night.”