Tackling the Takeaways

1. Tackling the Takeaways National Conference - ‘Lessons to take away’ – 30 June 2010 Presented by: Shifa Mustafa – Acting Executive Director Environment and Regeneration

2. The start of something new:Lasting local, regional and international effects • Sparked national and international debate on the merits of utilising planning policy to deliver broader social objectives such as health • Groundbreaking local planning policy implementation of National Policy objectives • Lasting effect on how local area’s respond to issue of regeneration in Town Centres and ‘placeshaping’ across Borough’s • Good example of Spatial Planning

3. Introduction • Identification of issue through SCS Consultation • Evidence • Policy Context • Council Response • Reaction • Making it corporate • Achievements

4. Identification of issue through SCSConsultation • Waltham Forest’s Sustainable Community Strategy we engaged with over 2,500 local residents. • The feedback showed significant dissatisfaction with both the staggering number of local Hot Food Takeaways and their subsequent impact on the vibrancy and quality of Town Centres.

5. “I am sick and tired of the noise, litter and anti-social behaviour associated with Hot Food Takeaways ……. there are too many and they are ruining the look and feel of the Borough” What you said… Poor shop front design Questionable nutritional quality of food Impacting on children’s health Impacting our streetscape

6. Linked SCS Aspirations • In the next 20 years, the Council seeks to transform physical, economic and social life in the borough in different ways – ‘Convergence’ • In seeking to protect and improve our Places , the following Sustainable Community Strategy objective is particularly relevant: Assert stronger controls over environmental management, through proactive use of planning and enforcement powers, particularly to tackle the proliferation of fast-food outlets, flytipping and flyposting.

7. National Policy Context • New legislation changed the way local councils plan for the future development needs of their community through a new system of Local Development Frameworks (LDF) that deal with spatial issues - relating to land use and physical development. • Focus on ‘place shaping’ - co-ordination and integration of policies likely to affect spaces including transport, environment, education, housing, employment, health, shopping etc, also integrating the other policies and programmes of othergovernment departments/agencies • PPS 12 - spatial planning aims to create a framework for regeneration that promotes social well being for the area. • Spatial planning ensures that strategies can be based on the community's views and obtain community buy in.

8. Evidence Base • Total of 241 Hot Food Takeaways in Borough (with Planning Permission- potentially more without). • Many located in clusters on high streets. • High proportion in relation to other food shops. • Over concentration in most centres. • Responsible for large amount of litter on streets. • Noise reports and anti-social behaviour reports. • Head Teachers confirm that proliferation of HFT’s close to schools are impacting on uptake of healthy eating programmes.

9. Reviewing extent of the issue:

10. Reviewing extent of the issue:

11. Council Response Prevent high concentrations and clusters of takeaways Prevent them locating near schools, youth facilities, parks and residential properties Resist proposals that would cause an unacceptable risk of crime and antisocial behaviour Ensure they don’t have an unacceptable impact on road safety Ensure they have good systems in place to deal with smells and waste Ensure they provide litterbins Ensure they are accessible for all, especially wheelchair users

12. Reaction • Overwhelming community support for policy (over 300 responses 89 % supporting). • Extremely positive local and national response to the SPD. • Supported by local schools and health professionals. • Enquiries from Councils across England. • Interest from University Professors.

13. “The Supplementary Planning Document you have produced on Hot Food Take Away Shops is a service to the nation. I hope you will adopt it, act on it, advertise it and inspire other councils to follow Waltham Forest's lead. The document has brought together in one convenient place all you need to know about using planning controls to control the profusion of takeaways near schools and other sensitive sites. You have created a template for other councils to follow, which many want to do. Congratulations for taking the initiative to limit the number of hot food takeaways in your borough. And congratulations too for the care you have taken in preparing the legal groundwork for such a restriction. The measures you are proposing would make a substantial contribution to improving schoolchildren's diets. “ Jack Winkler Professor of Nutrition Policy, London Metropolitan University

14. Making it corporate • Following on from the extremely positive local and national response to the SPD, a Hot Food Takeaway Corporate Steering Group was established. • Bringing together officers from across the Council and LSP to investigate how collectively we can contribute to ensuring that existing Hot Food Takeaway businesses operate as responsibly as possible. • Develop strategies for tackling the wider social, environmental and economic issues associated with the proliferation of Hot Food Takeaway Shops in the borough.

15. New ways of working together Internal stakeholders

16. New ways of working together External stakeholders

17. Consultation & Steering Group Ideas

18. Achievements to date • SPD Restricting new HFT shops opening – 5 applications have been refused planning permission. • No new HFTs have been given planning permission. • 1st appeal successfully upheld. • Increased enforcement action - closed down HFT shop without planning permission. • Number of HFTs in the borough reduced from 253 to 241.

19. Achievements to date Increased focus on A5 uses for environmental health checks – 12 premises closed down

20. Achievements to date Increased enforcement focus on A5 uses for unsatisfactory Waste practices – 7 Waste Transfer notices issued

21. Achievements to date More efficient, joined-up working relationships. Established key link with London Metropolitan University to tap into international best practice initiatives. Providing advice to other Councils/organisations on policy formulation and management of HFTs. Planning Advisory Service (PAS) - Best Practice case study. Proximity to school as a material consideration – Tower Hamlets case and NICE recommendations

22. Conclusion • Adopted a proactive, positive and bold ‘can do’ attitude. • Produced a innovative solution to directly address a community identified concern. • The adopted SPD has directly contributed to achieving corporate aims and objectives. • Partnership approach to the implementation of Spatial Planning.

23. Conclusion continued • The HFT Corporate Steering Group will continue working together to progress the healthy living agenda. • Established Legal precedent? – Tower Hamlets case. • SPD is established as ‘best practice’ - PAS. • Leading the way, with other councils adopting similar policies.