Plans to change the use of a vacant Barrow office to a hot-food takeaway have been recommended to the borough council’s planning committee for approval.
One objection to the proposal for 197 Rawlinson Street, submitted by Mr M Kowalski, was received.
It raised concern over increased disturbance, the possible health impact of ‘grease/dust’ and the potential impact of the development on parking in the area.
In a report produced ahead of a meeting of the borough council’s planning committee on Tuesday, case officer Jennifer Dickinson says the proposed change of use is expected to have a ‘modest impact on the locality of the site’.
The closing times for the takeaway that have been specified by the application are 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and 6pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
“The nature of the locality of the area has an element of comings and goings, with nearby uses permitted to open until 11pm,” says Ms Dickinson in her report.
“Given the residential nature of some of the properties, this is felt to be a reasonable time to open until and does not encroach into what are considered to be night-time hours in terms of protection from noise disturbance.
“Should concern be raised in future, separate public protection legislation exists if needed. With regards to traffic and parking, the context of the town centre location is a relevant factor to consider.
“Time-limited parking is provided adjacent to the site and there is both on-street and town centre car parks within close walking distance to the site.”
Ms Dickinson also addresses plans for the installation of extraction equipment at the site, which operated as the office of a web designer until February of this year.
She says the property’s location along a busy main road means ‘there will already be some impact from traffic in the locality on air quality’.
“Modern extraction equipment is designed to be efficient in dispersal of odours and grease and, provided it is installed and maintained correctly, any risk from this element of the proposal on public health is very low,” she says.
She concludes that ‘clear consideration has been given to effective extraction’ to ‘minimise any potential impacts from the proposal on nearby residents’.
She recommends approval subject to a number of conditions, including that the premises not be permitted to operate between 11pm and 6am.
