A BID to create a new takeaway in a town centre has been refused because it is too near a school.

Mohsin Sharif had asked for permission to turn an empty shop in Johnston Street, Blackburn, into a cafe and hot food to go premises.

But the location was close to several schools including Wensley Fold and St Barnabas and St Paul’s primaries.

The decision follows new NHS data showing that 22 per cent of Year 6 pupils in Blackburn with Darwen were classed as obese in 2019-20, up from 18 per cent in 2009-10.

The refusal notice said: “The proposed development would further concentrate an excessive proliferation of hot food takeaways within a school exclusion zone and it would fail to ensure negative health impacts on the residents of the borough are adequately minimised.”

A planning officer's report said: “The application site is a mid-row mixed-use building. Currently a vacant commercial unit is located on the ground floor with a flat above.

“The floor plans provided show a small food counter and waiting area to the front with the majority of the building used for food preparation and sales.

“Policy states that where development proposals have the potential to impact on public health, with particular reference to obesity and related disorders, the council will require the developer to demonstrate how public health issues have been taken into account.

“In response the agent submitted a ‘healthy options’ menu.

“Further requirements state that the development of hot food takeaways will not be permitted in locations where they are likely to lead to an increase in the consumption of takeaway food by young people, including the vicinity of any primary or secondary school or tertiary college.

“The Planning for Health planning document states that planning permission will not be granted for any new hot food takeaways where proposals are located within the 400metre exclusion zones around any primary or secondary school, madrassa, nursery or tertiary college, unless there are less than five existing takeaways within the 400m exclusion zone, and the proposed hours of operation are outside the hours of use of the educational facility.

“The site is located within 400m of educational facilities to the southeast.”