Plans have been knocked back as the proposed restaurant was too close to local schools<\/p>\n
An image submitted to Sheffield City Council showing the proposed layout of the McDonald’s drive-through restaurant in LowfieldAuthor: Julia Armstrong, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 26 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Fast food giant McDonald\u2019s has lost its bid for planning permission to build a new drive-through restaurant in Sheffield.<\/p>\n
Members of Sheffield City Council\u2019s planning and highways committee today (January 13) unanimously voted to turn down the plan for a drive-through restaurant and parking on land at the corner of Broadfield Road and London Road, Lowfield. <\/p>\n
They followed the advice of planning officers to refuse permission because the site is \u201cwithin walking distance of schools and other locations where young people congregate, does not promote healthy eating and would exacerbate existing high levels of deprivation and obesity within the area\u201d. <\/p>\n
Additionally, the refusal states that \u201cdesign, form and scale results in a building that displays an absence of visual interest and distinctiveness in its architecture which results in a utilitarian appearance\u201d. <\/p>\n
The decision added that the layout \u201cturns its back\u201d on houses on Chippinghouse Road, which also adjoins the site. <\/p>\n
Planning officer Chris Heeley said: \u201cThere has been significant interest in the application, with 50 letters of support and 200 objecting.\u201d <\/p>\n
Protests have also taken place next to the site. Objectors include Sheffield Central MP Abtisam Mohamed and Coun Alexi Dimond. <\/p>\n
Coun Nighat Basharat, who represents Nether Edge and Sharrow ward, spoke at the meeting to \u201cfirmly oppose\u201d the application. She said she was also representing local parents, residents and businesses she had spoken to. <\/p>\n
Coun Basharat said that many local parents are worried about the message given by the presence of a fast food outlet in their community, near schools and places of worship. <\/p>\n
\u201cMany parents have told me they are they are concerned about the impact this would have on their children\u2019s health.\u201d <\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThis is making unhealthy food even more accessible and normalised for our children.\u201d <\/p>\n
Coun Basharat also voiced concerns about traffic air pollution and safety for children travelling to Lowfield School. <\/p>\n
She said that local people felt they had not been consulted about the proposals, especially given language and digital barriers that many face. <\/p>\n
The council\u2019s public health team said that the proposal lies within 10 minutes\u2019 walking distance of three schools and 11 other places where young people congregate, such as community centres and playgrounds. <\/p>\n
Mr Heeley said public health data shows that by Year 6, 40% of children living locally are overwight or obese. This is higher than the overall Sheffield figure of 38%. <\/p>\n