Takeaway refused 'as there are too many'

Fatso's wanted to change its use to a hot food takeaway service

A sandwich shop on a major road has been refused permission to serve as a hot food takeaway because there are too many in the area, a council has said.

Fatso's sandwich shop, on Linthorpe Road, in Middlesbrough, faced objections from the authority over its application to change from a mixed-use site.

The eatery is in the "Linthorpe Road Secondary Area", defined by Middlesbrough Council as an area which must meet a threshold of takeaways in accordance with local health policies.

The Labour-run council said the plans would have a "negative impact on health", however the applicant said proposals would create jobs and "diversify" food options.

Earlier this year, plans were approved for the upper floors of the building to be converted from vacant office space into a four-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

'Incongruous' flue

Fatso's, which is open from 09:30 to 15:00 BST Monday to Friday and does not open on weekends, said longer hours would be in operation if takeaway plans were approved - proposing to remain open until 23:00 throughout the week and from 09:30 to 23:00 on Saturdays, and 10:00 to 16:00 on Sundays.

They had also hoped to upgrade facilities to include hot food cooking, with a new extraction fan at the back of the building described as a "tastefully installed and maintained, stainless steel extraction flue system".

However, the council said the proposed flue would be "incongruous" to the surrounding area.

The plans were also refused on the basis that too many hot food takeaways (HFTs) already operate in the area.

Council documents said the proposals could only be permitted when the result would not see thresholds surpassed "with Linthorpe Road South Secondary Shopping Area at 10%".

"Annual Town Centre Surveys (April 2025) indicate a 17% concentration of HFTs in the Linthorpe Road Secondary Area, which is well above the identified threshold."

Planning officers also said: "Applications for HFTs and fast food outlets are likely to have a negative impact on health and should be refused in locations where there is evidence that a concentration of such uses is having an adverse impact on local health."

Fatso's planning agent said by combining a HFT it would support the "vitality" of the shopping parade.