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Planning and Hot Food Business
This advice is also available in leaflet format in six languages, please select the appropriate pdf from the attachments at the foot of the page.
If you're thinking of opening a Hot Food Take-away, Café or Restaurant this web page explain the Council's planning guidelines for hot food businesses and how to give your planning application the best chance of being approved.
This is important information and advice which could save you time, trouble and money.
We give free pre-application advice. You may find it useful to write to us with brief details of your proposal, along with a location plan before you make a formal application. One of our planning officers will then visit the site and advise you on your proposal
First Steps
Before you rent, lease or buy a property you must check whether it has already got planning permission for use as a hot food business or if there are any restrictions on use, for example, on opening hours.
Before you rent, lease or buy a property you must check whether it has already got planning permission for use as a hot food business or if there are any restrictions on use, for example, on opening hours.
If you need to get planning permission, you should think carefully about the planning issues. If you aren't familiar with the planning application process, consider using an agent who has experience of similar applications. This is likely to be a planning consultant, but could be an architect, estate agent or solicitor.
It is important that you tell us what opening hours you are seeking in a covering letter with your application.
Please note that all food businesses need to be registered with Environment and Regulatory Services 28 days before opening. There's more information on the Health Protection web pages
A Successful Application
An application is more likely to succeed if:
- it's in the city centre, a district shopping centre or a larger local shopping centre that already has late night uses. But the presence of other take-aways or cafés does not mean that permission is guaranteed - these may have been established before current controls were in place.
- it's in an industrial area and the business will serve the needs of local workers
- there are no people living nearby
A planning application is less likely to succeed if:
- it would cause significant noise and disturbance to residents living nearby
- it's not possible to get rid of cooking odours successfully, or without an unsightly flue
- allowing another non-retail use would put ordinary shops in the minority and threaten the role of the shopping centre
- it would cause unacceptable parking and traffic safety problems
Planning Issues
There are some issues we need to consider when considering a planning application for a new hot food business. These include:
Noise & Disturbance
Customers often create noise and disturbance outside take-aways and restaurants in the evening or late at night. People leaving pubs at closing time can gather outside take-aways and be a particular source of nuisance. This is unacceptable if the area is otherwise quiet and undisturbed.
Customers often create noise and disturbance outside take-aways and restaurants in the evening or late at night. People leaving pubs at closing time can gather outside take-aways and be a particular source of nuisance. This is unacceptable if the area is otherwise quiet and undisturbed.
If someone lives above the premises they are entitled to protection from noise and disturbance. There is a difference between someone connected with the business living over it (which might be controlled by a condition attached to any planning consent) and a separate flat, which can expect greater protection.
If problems would be caused for local residents, the Council could refuse consent or restrict opening hours - usually to between 9am and 11.30pm (Monday to Saturday) and 9am to 11pm (Sundays). It is important to tell us in a covering note with the application what opening hours you are hoping for.
Externally mounted equipment, such as chiller units and fans, can cause noise so specialist advice may be needed to make sure the noise will not create a nuisance for neighbours.
Traffic & Parking
Most shopping centres have enough parking for take-aways, although Ecclesall Road is a special case where you should seek advice from planning officers. Outside existing shopping areas, take-aways with no off-street parking can sometimes cause traffic and pedestrian safety problems.
Cooking Smells
Cooking smells can be a nuisance, so efficient extraction equipment must be installed. This must not be unsightly. A flue will be required to end above the eaves, or above the ridge of the roof, depending on circumstances. Consider how the cookers are to be located in relation to the flue, and who owns the walls where the flue would be attached.
Most shopping centres have enough parking for take-aways, although Ecclesall Road is a special case where you should seek advice from planning officers. Outside existing shopping areas, take-aways with no off-street parking can sometimes cause traffic and pedestrian safety problems.
Cooking Smells
Cooking smells can be a nuisance, so efficient extraction equipment must be installed. This must not be unsightly. A flue will be required to end above the eaves, or above the ridge of the roof, depending on circumstances. Consider how the cookers are to be located in relation to the flue, and who owns the walls where the flue would be attached.
In many cases details can be conditional for later submission. In less straightforward cases details will be needed as part of the application. These details will comprise of elevation plans showing the route and outlet of ductwork in relation to the premises and neighbouring buildings.
Litter
Litter can be generated by take-aways and you may be required to provide a litter bin if there isn't one near your shop.
Litter can be generated by take-aways and you may be required to provide a litter bin if there isn't one near your shop.
Application Checklist
When you are completing the application form make sure that you:
- include a plan showing the location and layout of the premises. You can buy a 1:1250 scale location plan from First Point, Howden House, I Union Street, Sheffield.
- state your proposed opening hours and make it clear whether upper floors are included in the application, for example as living accommodation for yourself or somebody connected with the proposed business
- indicate how you intend to treat and disperse cooking odours
- include internal floor plans and external layout plans
- show any parking spaces or service areas on the plans
Once you have submitted your application, along with the correct fee - we will aim to decide your application within 8 weeks.
Other Permissions
As well as planning consent, you may need other permissions to advertise or alter your business premises.
If you want to display an advert - such as an illuminated sign - then Advertisement Consent may be needed. Always check. Contact us on 273 4215 for more information.
If you intend to carry out structural alterations/building an extension/new shop front - then you will also need Building Regulations Approval. Contact us on 273 4611 for more information.
Contact Us
You can contact us:
- If you want to discuss your proposal
- To get a planning application form
- For details of fees
- To buy a 1:1250 scale location plan
You can contact our general inquiry line or get in touch with a planner who works on your area. The city is divided into different areas of planning control:
City Centre and East Team tel: 273 4215
AttercliffeDarnallFirth ParkManorWaterthorpeWestfieldWincobankWoodhouse
North and West Team tel: 273 4215
ChapeltownCrookesGrenosideGrimesthorpeHigh GreenHillsboroughOughtibridgeParson CrossStanningtonStocksbridgeWalkley Bank
South Team tel: 273 4215
BroomhallDoreEcclesallFulwoodGleadlessGreystonesHeeleyLodge MoorMillhousesNortonParkRanmoorSharrowTotley
General Enquiry Planning Office tel: 273 4215
Our address is:
Planning Division
Development Services
Howden House
1 Union Street
SHEFFIELD
S1 2SH
Our email address is:
You can write to us in Urdu, Bengali, Chinese, Arabic or Somali, rather than English, if you prefer. If you want to speak to us about planning matters in any of these languages, call us and we will arrange an appointment and invite an interpreter
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