Reuniting Planning and Health

Healthy Cities 21st Century

Prevent obesity

(also see Increase physical activity and Reduce health inequalities)

  • Encourage local retailers to offer and promote affordable fruit and vegetables
  • Use existing powers to control the number of takeaways and other food outlets in a given area, particularly near schools

Source: Preventing Obesity (NICE, 2013)

Examples of adopted policies

Salford Hot Food Takeaways Supplementary Planning Document

  • Where a hot food take away is proposed within 400 metres of a secondary school, planning permission will only be granted subject to a condition that the premises are not open to the public before 5pm Monday to Friday and there are no over the counter sales before that time.     
  • This policy will not apply to hot food takeaways proposed in a designated local centre, town centre or the Manchester/Salford City Centre, or locations that would be unlikely to be accessed by pupils of a nearby school

Central Lincolnshire Joint Core Strategy (publication version, not yet adopted)

  • Promote and safeguard the role of local food growing spaces – including garden plots, community gardens and allotments – and local markets

More information, and examples

Obesity and the environment briefing: regulating the growth of fast food outlets (PHE, 2013)

Obesity and the environment briefing: increasing physical activity and active travel (PHE, 2013) 

Takeaways Toolkit (Greater London Authority, 2012)