News: Plans approved to enable Sheffield fast food favourite to open in Rotherham
Plans have been approved that will enable "Britain's best takeaway" to open in the revamped Westgate Chambers development in Rotherham town centre.
Westgate Chambers is a large private-led regeneration project - a £10m scheme designed by Sheffield-based Self Architects involving the creation of a commercial, retail and residential development that involves renovating the buildings around a courtyard, including a Georgian Grade II listed building.
Rothbiz revealed in November 2023 that Sheffield-based burger restaurant, Munchies, had applied for a change of use application for a unit on Main Street.
With three locations across Sheffield, Munchies garnered national acclaim earlier in 2023 when it won The Best Takeaway In Britain Award at the Just Eat Restaurant Awards.
The brand is famed for its burgers and milkshakes and describes itself as having a "generous menu that satisfies big cravings from a business which is big on personality and bigger on flavour."
The plans for the 1,800 sq ft unit at 4 Main Street show kitchen and preparation areas to the rear and booths and banquette seating at the front.
A design statement submitted with the application hints at a playful interior, neon lights and an "instagram-worthy atmosphere."
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The Council’s Adult Care, Housing & Public Health Department have raised objections to the proposals in terms of clustering of takeaways in the Town Centre and within the Boston Castle Ward.
Planning policies exist in Rotherham to limit the number of takeaways in prime town centre streets. In this case, planning officers conclude that Main Street is not a Primary or Secondary Street Frontage, adding that: "this takeaway business is considered to be appropriately located within an area of the Town Centre which is dominated by the night time economy, which this use is considered to be complimentary to."
Another policy states that new hot food takeaways are not acceptable within 800 metres of a school or tertiary college facility, except in defined town or local centres, which this site is within.
A report from the planners concludes: "Whilst it is recognised that hot food takeaways may provide some healthy eating options, evidence demonstrates the link between fast food takeaways and health concerns for Rotherham's communities.
"In this instance as Rotherham Town Centre is already well served by a number of fast-food takeaways, the additional takeaway will unlikely make a difference. Any college or school children in the area already also have access to range of hot food takeaways."
Conditions include restricting opening hours to 11:00 until 23:30 Sundays to Thursdays, and 11:00 until 02:30 Fridays and Saturdays.
Munchies website
Images: Munchies / Imperial Signs
Westgate Chambers is a large private-led regeneration project - a £10m scheme designed by Sheffield-based Self Architects involving the creation of a commercial, retail and residential development that involves renovating the buildings around a courtyard, including a Georgian Grade II listed building.
Rothbiz revealed in November 2023 that Sheffield-based burger restaurant, Munchies, had applied for a change of use application for a unit on Main Street.
With three locations across Sheffield, Munchies garnered national acclaim earlier in 2023 when it won The Best Takeaway In Britain Award at the Just Eat Restaurant Awards.
The brand is famed for its burgers and milkshakes and describes itself as having a "generous menu that satisfies big cravings from a business which is big on personality and bigger on flavour."
The plans for the 1,800 sq ft unit at 4 Main Street show kitchen and preparation areas to the rear and booths and banquette seating at the front.
A design statement submitted with the application hints at a playful interior, neon lights and an "instagram-worthy atmosphere."
Advertisement
The Council’s Adult Care, Housing & Public Health Department have raised objections to the proposals in terms of clustering of takeaways in the Town Centre and within the Boston Castle Ward.
Planning policies exist in Rotherham to limit the number of takeaways in prime town centre streets. In this case, planning officers conclude that Main Street is not a Primary or Secondary Street Frontage, adding that: "this takeaway business is considered to be appropriately located within an area of the Town Centre which is dominated by the night time economy, which this use is considered to be complimentary to."
Another policy states that new hot food takeaways are not acceptable within 800 metres of a school or tertiary college facility, except in defined town or local centres, which this site is within.
"In this instance as Rotherham Town Centre is already well served by a number of fast-food takeaways, the additional takeaway will unlikely make a difference. Any college or school children in the area already also have access to range of hot food takeaways."
Conditions include restricting opening hours to 11:00 until 23:30 Sundays to Thursdays, and 11:00 until 02:30 Fridays and Saturdays.
Munchies website
Images: Munchies / Imperial Signs
40 comments:
Didn't agree in first place with another fast food place dishing up same unhealthy rubbish being allowed....but it's a bit late questioning it now,place is converted and ready to open.Typical RMBC useless!
I think you have miss-read the article or are unclear on planning processes. No one is questioning anything after the event - the article is reporting on what has been raised during the process and an explanation of the outcome. How does this make the Council useless?
Useless for allowing it in first place...but hey they are labour, suppose we'll have to get used to such thing on a much larger scale!🤣🤣🤣
That you dislike fast food is fair comment. Your comment about planning isn't.
Why the smiley faces? Is your post trying to be funny?
No doubt halal food
How dare a successful business try to open in Rotherham! Much better to let the empty building rot.
Reassuring to know that racism is alive and kicking on this site.
Which comment was racist? I can't see one.
It's never good to see the Council pick an argument with itself. Perhaps it's time that RMBC's left hand should start telling the right hand what it's doing, before making these decisions public?
I don't have a high opinion of RMBC, largely due to their ability to ignore the obvious and pursue their own pet projects, but I think that they've done the right thing here.
The food looks pretty grim from the pics... but if it's popular and it creates a few new jobs in the town, who am I to judge?
There seems to be a fundamental lack of understanding from those commenting on this site around governance and due diligence. Whenever a proposal is made it is up to each department to feed in the impact, their comments, views etc. It is then down to the planning team to review and make a decision based on the information received, the regulations, and the positive/negative impacts (social, financial etc.)
In this instance the Council’s Adult Care, Housing & Public Health Department have raised objections. These have been considered and the Planning Officers have determined the proposal is acceptable based on the information they have reviewed.
This is not the Council picking an argument with itself, this is the process working as it should.
"This is the process working as it should." So, in other words, the planning dept acts as judge, jury and executioner in these types of matters?
Actually tried food from there parson cross branch, nothing special tbh.Just another takeaway feeding what people will eat,no matter how unhealthy it is,then we wonder why there's so many fat people with health issues.Anyhow enjoy if this is your thing.🤮
If you can't see it then it is pointless trying to explain.
Don't know who you are, but judging is just what you're doing..
Offensive throwaway comments and then plead innocence. Typical!
Good luck to them and anyone else who invests in the town. Don't think much to the pink frontage however.
You obviously weren’t that bothered about how unhealthy it is or you wouldn’t have tried it in the first place so don’t be acting holier than thou on the subject.
To the person commenting "This is the process working as it should. So, in other words, the planning dept acts as judge, jury and executioner in these types of matters?" The role of the planning department is to make the decision on these matters. Clearly the person who commented on the lack of understanding from those commenting hit the nail on the head
Just so.
The food is halal though, I’ve checked their website. Is it racist to say the food is halal?
"involving the creation of a commercial, retail and residential development that involves renovating the buildings around a courtyard, including a Georgian Grade II listed building."
The paint colour used now puts the entire run of properties at risk of ending up looking like something from "Balamory". Imperial Buildings has strict restrictions i.e. everything MUST be Green and Gold on the exterior facades.
I can't see any mention of Planners looking at this element as well as the other areas reported upon. C'mon RMBC it's easier to make things look better from the onset as opposed to trying to back track.
“Halal” is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted. It is used in Islam. Islam is NOT a race, it is a religion (mostly practised by Caucasians). British people are Caucasian. So, NO it is not racist!
Here's a thought - if you had a strong opinion on this development why did you not submit your views as part of the planning process, rather than moaning after the event.
That told you JEZ
Disingenuous claptrap designed to defend the indefensible. Islamaphobia is rooted in racism and acknowledged under law as racist.
British people are Caucasian are they? So Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus born in Britain or awarded citizenship are not British then?
Jez, you’ve lost the argument (and don’t know what disingenuous means). Your second comment makes no sense (as Sikhs and Hindus are Caucasian too). In addition “Islamophobia” or “Islamophobia” is nonsense too (a made-up term) as, again. Islam is an Arabic word and phobic is derived from the Greek ‘phobos’ (so two languages in one word).
Pointless trying to reason with bigots Jez
If you put as much effort into doing something positive as you do defending your offensive and inappropriate comments the world would be a better place.
Why not offer an original thought now and again rather than regurgitating right wing propaganda sites. Strange that you don't know the meaning of disingenuous, but have chapter and verse on Arabic words. Oh and by the way all words were made up originally, not just the very real phenomenon of Islamaphobia. Knock yourself out on Wikipedia again, but preferably sit down and ponder why you are an apologist for racists.
What can possibly motivate you to come out with stuff like this?
Not really appropriate for here. Or anywhere really.
Should do well on match days.
Anybody know when it's due to open?
Twenteenth of Octember
Probably your most sensible post to date.
Sounds all Greek to me so maybe Arabic words meaning nerd
You need to look for a site more suited to your views. Maybe Nigel Farage's Facebook account?
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