Shipping container cafe plans refused

The site of the proposed cafe in Horton Park Avenue, Bradford

Plans for a shipping container cafe, which was already in the process of being installed, have been refused by council officials.

An application had been submitted to convert a shop in Bradford's Horton Park Avenue and install a shipping container on a stone terrace next to the building.

Bradford Council refused the application, citing a lack of parking and a potential increase in odour and noise, as well as the appearance of the development.

Planning officers also criticised the fact that the container was already in place.

'Visually obtrusive'

Highways officers had raised concerns about the plans for the cafe at the junction of Horton Park Avenue and Crossley Street – an area flanked by a bus stop and double yellow lines.

They said: “The proposal offers no designated off-street parking spaces for deliveries, servicing, customer or staff vehicles, with limited on-street parking to adequately serve the proposed change of use.

“It would lead to intensification in use of the site without providing any off-street parking and would result in an increase in on-street parking either in the turning head on Crossley Street, resulting in difficulties for vehicles to turn around, or parking on Horton Park Avenue closer to the junction with Great Horton Road raising highway safety concerns.”

Twelve people objected to the plans, arguing the area was densely populated and that parking was already at a premium for residents without the added pressure of a new cafe.

Refusing the application by Faisal Sheikh, planning officers said: “The main visual harm of this proposal is the proposed detached shipping container.

“From visiting the site, the container has already been installed making this application retrospective.

“It forms a dominating feature within the site and a visually obtrusive feature which is out of keeping and harms the appearance of the area and street scene with this site highly visible from public vantage points as it fronts onto Horton Park Avenue.”

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