Takeaway told go back to drawing board over 'intrusive' shopfront

A takeaway has been refused retrospective planning permission for a new shopfront in a conservation area because it is ‘visually intrusive’.

Planners told the owners of City Shawarma on High Street in Buxton to ‘engage with the planning enforcement team’ after turning down their planning application – when work had already begun. 

Builders removed the traditional timber framed shopfront, replacing it with an aluminium framed frontage holding a large window and an illuminated fascia. 

“The original window was in a poor state of repair, and this will provide a clean and visually active frontage,” said Wylie Architecture on behalf of City Shawarma. “There are many similar shop frontages along the High Street.” 

The building is the former home of the Dub Kitchen & Bar and Indian restaurant, Russi, and lies within Buxton’s Central Conservation Area. 

High Peak Council (HPBC) received 18 public objections to the plans, raising concerns about potential disruption from the later 1am closing time to the cooking area being moved to the front of the shop. 

A statement from the Derbyshire County Council’s Conservation Officer objected to the development, saying: “The proposal presents a very flat and uninteresting shopfront and signage, which is not in keeping with the conservation area and street scene.” 

However, HPBC isn’t against the idea of another takeaway, according to the case officer Pet Twigg: “The proposed diversification of use to include hot food takeaway presents no issues in principle at this location. The site lies within the urban boundary of Buxton and in accordance with Policy S7 would support the needs of a local business. 

“The applicant is advised to resubmit plans which clearly define the extents of cooking area, dining area and takeaway customer waiting on the floorplan and clarify how the business will operate, together with details of odour extraction.” 

Any new plans would also have to stick to an 11pm closing time.