New fast-food takeaways could be effectively banned from most of York under a proposal before councillors.
Planning guidance could be changed to see new fish and chip shops, pizza parlours, Chinese and Indian takeaways, burger outlets and the like barred from much of the city.
Existing outlets would not be affected.
Draft guidance says that, outside the city centre and Acomb and Haxby district centres, planning applications will normally be refused within 800 metres walking distance of the entrance to a school and other places where children and young people congregate.
These other places include:
- Early Years Settings (including registered childcare providers)
- Best Start Family hubs
- play areas
- community centres
- libraries
- and parks.
“The 800 metre exclusion buffer is considered reasonable as it broadly equates to a 20 minute return walk, allowing for physical barriers and typical route choices and has been widely
accepted as a reasonable walking distance,” the draft guidance says.
As the map shows, this means new takeaways would be banned from the vast majority of the city.
The policy is designed to improve the health of city residents, particularly children.
“While takeaways can provide convenient services, their negative impacts are well documented,” the draft policy says.
“Evidence shows that such patterns of rising numbers of fast-food outlets are closely linked to poorer health outcomes.”
It says in areas of deprivation, children are are twice as likely to develop obesity by age five.
York also has more takeaways than average. The city’s fast-food density in 2024 is 119.5 outlets per 100,000, above the England average of 115.9, with a rising trend since 2017.
Former leader of City of York Council Steve Galloway is critical of the policy, being considered by the current Labour-run administration.
On his blog, the Liberal Democrat writes: “The document claims the measure is needed to ‘support healthier food environments’ and reduce childhood obesity.
“But in practice, it reads less like a public‑health strategy and more like a sweeping attempt to micromanage York’s communities, businesses and streets.
“This is, frankly, one of the most intrusive pieces of ‘nannying’ policy we’ve seen in years. A blanket ban dressed up as guidance…
“This isn’t targeted. It isn’t proportionate. And it certainly isn’t supportive of local enterprise.”
The draft policy will go before a specific advisory group at the council.
Peter Roderick, director of public health at City of York Council, said: “The Planning Policy and Local Plan Advisory Group is being established as an executive, cross-party advisory group of the Council.
“It does not have any formal decision-making powers but acts as an advisor to the executive, director of city development and executive member on matters within its remit.
“All formal decisions relating to the Local Plan and associated planning policy documents shall be taken by the executive, full council, or other appropriate bodies in accordance with the council’s constitution.
“Specifically, Tuesday’s meeting will provide a forum for detailed cross-party member engagement on the preparation, review and maintenance of the Local Plan.
“The discussion will be far-reaching and includes guidance on how York will assess planning applications for hot food takeaways and fast‑food outlets.
“As stated in the report, there is clear evidence that takeaways can harm health, undermine amenity and weaken the quality and character of neighbourhoods.
“The guidance therefore establishes a proportionate and evidence-based framework for managing the location, scale, design and cumulative impact of hot food takeaways and fast food outlets.
“Reviewing our planning requirements for takeaways is in alignment with several council strategies and policies, and is also very similar to planning guidance and SPDs in other local authority areas.”
Last October, a controversial plan to create a McDonald’s restaurant off Fulford Road in York was refused by council planners.
They said it was near to several schools and would go against planning objectives “supporting strong, healthy communities, improving health and reducing obesity”.
