Assessment factors for food and beverage development applications

When dealing with applications relating to new buildings, or the change of use of retail/non-retail premises to restaurants, cafés or hot food takeaways in district and local centres, a number of factors need to be considered: • The impact of the development on the vitality and viability of the centre, and the need to retain local retailing. The proposal should not by itself, or cumulatively with other non-retail uses, undermine the primary role of the 'centre' in providing for local convenience shopping needs. In this respect, the following will be regarded as particularly relevant: - the level and nature of existing non-retail uses; and - the number of unimplemented valid planning permissions for change of use to restaurants, cafés and fast food outlets. • The impact in terms of the size of the premises and whether they can be absorbed without dominating the district or local centre in the visual sense. • Likely impact on the amenity of the centre itself. This will involve consideration not only of the matters referred to above but also the potential of the proposal to