Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Object

Representation ID: 14111

Received: 20/11/2020

Respondent: McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd

Agent: Planware Ltd

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The proposed Policy P18 approach is unsound. It is too restrictive and prevents local planning authorities from pursuing a more positive policy approach.

The underlying assumption is that all Sui Generis uses are inherently harmful to health, which is not supported by evidence. McDonald’s offers healthy meal options, transparent nutritional information to allow healthy choices, and quality food and food preparation. The policy fails to acknowledge the wider benefits that restaurants can have on the economy and sustainable development.

Object

Representation ID: 14112

Received: 20/11/2020

Respondent: McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd

Agent: Planware Ltd

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Restricting hot food takeaways within a 400m radius from an entrance to a primary or secondary school, youth centre or similar location is in direct conflict with national planning policy. The Policy provides no flexibility in accordance with town centre sites, conflicting with the sequential approach.

The phrasing “or similar location” needs to be defined. A map showing such exclusion zones will highlight the negative land use consequences of Policy P18. The policy is likely to be damaging to the district’s economy.

Object

Representation ID: 14113

Received: 20/11/2020

Respondent: McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd

Agent: Planware Ltd

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Policy P18 takes an inconsistent approach towards new development that sells food and discriminates against operations with a hot food takeaway Sui Generis use. Given the objectives of Policy P18, it should apply equally to all relevant food retailers (A1 and A3 uses).
The policy is wholly disproportionate as it fails to acknowledge that the opportunity for children to access Sui Generis development, as part of a school day, is extremely limited.

Object

Representation ID: 14115

Received: 20/11/2020

Respondent: McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd

Agent: Planware Ltd

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

There is no evidence to indicate over-concentrated areas of hot food takeaway’s gives rise to obesity or poor health outcomes. Evidence from the Borough of Waltham Forest, which introduced a school proximity policy, shows there has been no discernible impact on childhood obesity rates. More research and investigation is needed before such a approach can be justified. Similar policies have been found to be unsound by inspectors who have examined other plans such as South Ribble, London Borough of Croydon, Nottingham City, Rotherham and Guilford.