Plans to ban new takeaways across Newcastle in bid to tackle obesity

Councillors in Newcastle are considering introducing controversial rules which the council would no longer grant planning permission to new takeaways in most of the city. 

In response to increasing obesity levels in the city, the proposed rules would not allow new takeaways within a 400m radius of schools, parks and community centres, in wards where more than 10 per cent of Year 6 pupils are living with obesity or those areas where the number of approved hot food takeaways would be equal to, or exceed, the UK national average per 1,000 population.

Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health for the city, said: “The environment we live in influences the food choices we make. Food served in hot food takeaways are generally higher in fat, salt and sugar and consequently they can have a detrimental impact on residents’ health and the quality of the local environment.

“The council wants to support and encourage people to improve their health and wellbeing through healthy eating and active lifestyles. In order to do this, multiple interventions are required including targeting the relationship between the food environment and the weight of the population.

 “Planning has an important role in shaping healthy communities, and this is just one example of how it can help in the fight against obesity.”