Introduction
Welcome to yet another riveting episode of “How To Confuse Yourself with Planning Laws!” This thrilling addendum to Public Health England’s guidance on Using the Planning System to Promote Healthy Weight Environments—published back in February 2020 when we were blissfully unaware of the chaos that lay ahead—serves to illuminate the seemingly enchanting world of hot food takeaways. Yes, you heard right: hot food takeaways, those bastions of culinary delight that also happen to be under the watchful eye of local planning controls.
So why this addendum, you ask? Well, it appears that the stars have aligned and we’re here to explore new implications for planning a healthier food environment. That’s right, we’re diving into the delicious yet controversial realm of hot food takeaways, right on cue with the Use Class Order (UCO) changes that rolled out from September 1, 2020. Buckle up, folks; this is going to be a bumpy ride!
The New Use Class Order
Ah, the UCO! A categorization system so delightful it could make even the most thrilling categorized list look like a blockbuster movie. Traditionally, food and drink establishments were divided into various classes, making it a veritable buffet of bureaucratic delight. But fear not, dear reader! New regulations enacted on September 1, 2020, have sprinkled a bit of chaos into this utopia by shaking up the use classes related to food premises. Feast your eyes on Table 1, where the transformation occurs!
Table 1: Old versus the New UCO for Food Retail Premises
Behold the magic! In this enchanting table, we see how the UCO has morphed from its previous incarnation to a fresh, new version under the guise of modernity.
| Use Class Order before 1 September 2020 | Use Class Order from 1 September 2020 |
|---|---|
| A3 Restaurants and cafés | Class E Commercial, business and service |
| A4 Drinking establishments | Sui generis |
| A5 Hot food takeaways | Sui generis |
Now, for your amusement, the definitions:
- A3 Restaurants and cafés – A magical land where food and drink can be consumed on the premises without a takeout box in sight.
- A4 Drinking establishments – “Wanna grab a pint? Oh, but we do serve food—if you insist!”
- A5 Hot food takeaways – A glorious domain of food explicitly meant for off-premises consumption (because who wants to eat there and risk talking to someone?).
- Class E Commercial, business and service – A hodgepodge of shops that sell delicious goodies but expect you to stay for an Instagram-friendly ambiance.
- Sui generis – For those that refuse to fit into a box or a category, like your friend who insists they’re “just vibing.”
In a plot twist reminiscent of a bad sitcom, the shift from A5 hot food takeaways to sui generis gives local authorities newfound power through the planning application process, allowing them to wield their newfound control like a scepter while preventing the overwhelming surge of hot food takeaways bursting onto the scene. Like culinary bouncers outside a club!
PHE Statement and Recommendations
The National Planning Policy Framework insists that planning policies should help support healthy lifestyles—like a sweet blend of carrot sticks and haphazardly spread peanut butter. The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) takes it a step further, suggesting we reduce those pesky less healthy options like our beloved hot food takeaways. Because who wouldn’t want to say “no” to greasy goodness?
PHE, always the resourceful companion, offers insights into crafting healthier food environments—because evidently, we can’t rely on common sense alone. Many local planning authorities (LPAs) have worked tirelessly to create planning documents referring to hot food takeaways, and who would have thought those would still hold water despite the UCO changes? Spoiler alert: they do!
While some LPAs will fumble around updating their documents to reflect these monumental shifts, they can rest assured knowing that their existing evidence base remains intact. Phew! Just a minor hiccup in the bureaucratic realm.
PHE recommends that public health and planning teams take a breather and:
- Embrace this addendum like an old friend, clarifying local plans and decisions.
- Replace all references of A5 hot food takeaways with the magical sui generis when reviewing planning documents.
- Continue making choices based on the material conditions of local health, because “lifestyle” doesn’t taste as good as it sounds.
- Monitor hot food takeaway outlets like they’re lurking villains in a comic book.
- Consult legal experts when ambiguities arise, because let’s be real: attorneys are the only ones who truly enjoy navigating this labyrinth.
Curious minds seeking more information should reach out to: HealthyPlaces@phe.gov.uk; they’re patiently waiting to assist you in deciphering the delicious mysteries of planning and health.
