Cllr. Jacob Allen

BH2025/00019 – 267 Old Shoreham Road

11^th March 2026:

In my capacity as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Service Transformation, I wish to object to the proposal to establish a McDonalds drive-through establishment on Old Shoreham Road, Hove, BN3 7ED (BH2025/00019).

My objection is founded on concerns relating to public health and the potential adverse impact on the local community, particularly young people.

Planning decisions should enable and support healthy lives, through both promoting good health and preventing ill-health, especially where this would address identified local health and well-being needs and reduce health inequalities between the most and least deprived communities (See NPPF Paragraph 96).

The site is a key artery for school children attending local primary and secondary schools. Indeed, Headteachers from local schools have already submitted their own objections to the scheme.

The NPPF explicitly states that Local Planning Authorities should refuse applications for hot food takeaways and fast-food outlet within walking distance of schools and other places where children and young people congregate, unless the location is within a designated town centre; or - in locations where there is evidence that a concentration of such uses is having an adverse impact on local health, pollution or anti-social-behaviour. I feel this site is outside of the scope allowable under planning policy and is therefore should not be considered acceptable.

Approval of this scheme would only serve to benefit a multinational corporation at the expense of the health and dietary wellbeing of the children of Hove, Portslade and Hangleton and Knoll. The harms to public health, the environment, and community well-being far outweigh any economic benefits.

In light of these concerns and in adherence to the principles laid out in the NPPF, I urge the Planning Committee to reject this application.