HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

comparison of goods and hence attract shoppers. A variety of service uses may also be appropriate in
shopping areas (see para 8.24) and provided they do not become predominant in any row of shops, can
“contribute to the vitality of a shopping area”, and contribute to its retail attractiveness. In some cases,
however, service uses can detract from this vitality and attractiveness and the Local Planning Authority will
therefore exercise strict control over the loss of shops to other uses. The trends referred to in paragraph 8.2
continue to result in the closure of small shops and pressures arise for alternative uses.
(a)
Safeguarding Amenity
8.19 The siting of uses which could have an adverse impact on amenity such as amusement centres,
betting offices and hot food take-aways, demands special attention, particularly in Conservation Areas or in
close proximity to housing, churches, schools and hospitals, and local planning authorities can impose
conditions on planning permissions to help overcome potential problems. Hot food take-aways also tend to
attract a significant proportion of their trade from motorists and some operate a courier home delivery
service. In order to prevent congestion, disturbance and obstruction caused by parking on street or on the
pavement outside the premises, adequate arrangements will need to be made for off-street parking for
customers' and couriers' vehicles. Chapter 14 contains the particular road safety and traffic policies that the
Local Planning Authority will take into consideration. There may be particular locations where hot food
take-aways could give rise to problems of highway management and safety. Hot food take-aways can also
generate smells and fumes. In many cases these can be removed by appropriate ventilation and ducting
measures, but if there is a residential use above or adjacent, such measures may be insufficient to prevent
loss of amenity and refusal of planning permission may be justifiable. Hot food take-aways tend to raise
public concern that litter problems will arise; where possible the Local Planning Authority will seek
appropriate provision for litter bins in association with new hot food take-aways. Where the proposal
relates to statutory or locally Listed Building or is within a Conservation Area, the LPA will require details
of any proposed shopfront alterations to be submitted with the application for change of use to be satisfied
that S6(i) and (ii) are being met.
S6 TO SAFEGUARD THE AMENITIES OF SHOPPING AREAS, THE LOCAL PLANNING
AUTHORITY WILL GRANT PERMISSION FOR CHANGES OF USE OF CLASS A1 SHOPS IF:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
THE PROPOSAL WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO VISUAL AMENITY WHERE
THE PREMISES FORM PART OF A STATUTORY OR LOCALLY LISTED BUILDING
OR ARE LOCATED WITHIN A CONSERVATION AREA;
A FRONTAGE OF A DESIGN APPROPRIATE TO THE SURROUNDING AREA IS
MAINTAINED OR PROVIDED (THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY MAY
IMPOSE CONDITIONS TO ENSURE RETENTION OR INSTALLATION OF AN
APPROPRIATE FRONTAGE); AND
THE PROPOSED USE IS COMPATIBLE WITH NEIGHBOURING USES AND WILL
NOT CAUSE UNACCEPTABLE LOSS OF AMENITY TO NEARBY RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES BY REASON OF DISTURBANCE, NOISE, SMELL, FUMES, PARKING
OR TRAFFIC RELATED PROBLEMS;
HAS NO HARMFUL EFFECT ON ROAD SAFETY AND DOES NOT WORSEN
TRAFFIC CONGESTION OR DISRUPT BUS OPERATIONS.
THE LOCAL AUTHORITY MAY IMPOSE CONDITIONS COVERING RESTRICTIONS ON
USES, OPENING HOURS, SOUND PROOFING, DUCTING, CAR PARKING, OR OTHER
MATTERS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT ACCEPTABLE.
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan