Proposal for hot food takeway

Plans have been submitted to transform a former newsagent into a hot food takeaway in Bellsbank.

The former shop is one of three units in Merrick Drive and sits next to another food takeaway, now believed to be empty, and the former Post Office, which closed around five years ago.

In a statement to planners, the applicant’s agent said that the previous takeaway was ‘understood to be vacant,’ adding that they could not discover consent for its use as a takeaway.

It continues: “The building is in a poor state of repair and the applicant has instructed a roof contractor to carry-out essential roof repairs to maintain the fabric of the building.”

“It is proposed to remove the existing [rotten] doors and windows to the front elevation and replacing it with new windows that would match. The three roller shutters will be replaced with one wide roller shutter to improve the street elevation when closed.”

The owners plan to operate from 1pm to 10pm seven days a week.

The agent continues: “It should be noted that the application site is a vacant, former retail unit, which previously secured consent for a Hot Food Takeaway in 2012. The applicant understands the previously approved consent was never enacted and has recently purchased the building at auction. This site previously enjoyed planning consent for a near identical hot food takeaway proposal. This proposal does not constitute an overconcentration of hot food takeaways in the area, especially since the adjacent unit (which does not appear to have had the benefit of planning consent) is now vacant. Given the poor state of the building this application should be approved to ensure the building does not deteriorate into further disrepair which could lead to the adjacent units becoming derelict.”