Reduce number of takeaways in proximity to schools

What is the policy?

This policy relates to the authority and success of urban planners in Local Authorities in refusing planning permission for the opening of new takeaway outlets near schools. It is sometimes referred to as the implementation of takeaway management zones or “exclusion” zones. This policy is implemented at a local government level. 

Recent context

Modifying the distribution and density of takeaway food outlets in cities and neighbourhoods is becoming an increasingly important element of nutrition and health policy in the UK particularly in relation to children’s weight. The primary objective is to  curb the proliferation of takeaway food outlets in proximity to schools within urban and suburban areas across the UK. 

The most common type of health-focused planning regulation implemented by Local Authorities (LAs) is takeaway management zones. Waltham Forest was the first LA to adopt one in 2009. By the end of 2017, 35 out of 325 LAs in England had introduced takeaway management zones encircling schools. The takeaway management zones influence the planning approval for new takeaways but have no control on those already in operation. Among 35 English Local Authorities, 26% adopted full management zones, which prohibit all new takeaways, 20% adopted time management zones, imposing restrictions on the operating hours of new takeaways and 54% adopted town centre exempt zones, exempting town centres that overlap with management zones. 

In Wales, some local authorities already utilise existing planning powers and have processes in place to restrict the location or number of HFTs.  To support the planning system, in 2021 Public Health Wales published guidance for planners to equip them to make conscious decisions regarding the health impacts of policies. However, the Welsh Government recognised in their  Healthy Food Environment consultation that there are limits to what can be achieved through the planning system. They are therefore currently exploring other supportive measures such as reviewing licensing and regulation of street trading policies near secondary schools. 

In Scotland, the national Diet and Healthy Weight Action Plan  detailed support for restricting take-aways near schools and committed to exploring this in the future iteration of Scottish Planning Policy (the now published National Planning Framework 4). This support has not yet translated into action. Research was also carried out by Scottish Government on the relationship between the food environment and the Scottish planning system which indicated that there was at the time no interaction between planning policy and the food environment in so far as seeking to address obesity is concerned.

Case studies

Leeds City Council Takeaway Planning Restrictions

In 2019, Leeds introduced a “Hot Food Takeaway Supplementary Planning Document“, a policy which aims to restrict the opening of new hot food takeaways within 400 metres of Secondary schools.

Manchester City Council Planning Restrictions

Manchester has implemented similar restrictions on hot food takeaways near schools. Planning policies aim to limit the proliferation of fast-food outlets in areas to no more than 10% of all non-residential ground floor frontages in district and local centres.

Bristol City Council bans takeaways near schools

In Bristol, a policy will stop new takeaways from opening within 400m of schools or youth clubs. The policy will also stop three or more takeaways from opening next door to each other. 

There are a number of other case studies which illustrate a range of approaches across England in the Sustain Hot Food Takeaways Toolkit.

Considerations for implementing policy

Local Plans are informed by the statutory National Planning Guidelines which underpin the National Planning Framework in each nation. It is clearly stated in the frameworks the relation of planning to health and wellbeing and the role it can play in creating healthier communities. Local policies have to align with the National frameworks.

Other considerations also include the fact this policy does not take into account the whole journey and therefore students’ overall exposure to takeaways. Many school children have access to free public transport so can reach fast food outlets outside the exclusion zone and the 400m exclusion zone is effectively only relevant to lunchtimes and the time immediately before and after the school day.

Estimating the population impact

We estimated this policy would reduce the prevalence of UK obesity rates by x%. 

Estimating the per-person impact

We estimated the impact of this policy on using data published in Burgoine et al’s evaluation of this policy in xxxxxxx. This study estimated that after 6 years the policy would result in 30.3%% fewer takeaways opening as would have been if the policy was not implemented. We could not identify high quality data that estimated the effect of this policy on obesity related outcomes (e.g. BMI, calorie intake). We therefore assumed that calore intake for the exposed population would remain constant throughout the intervention period. This is because the policy would result in no additional outlets opening, rather than reducing the existing availability of outlets. 

Applying the effects at a population level, key assumptions: 

• We model the impact for children in the age group 5 – 17 years all inclusive. We are interested in those children living with excess weight (≥  85th percentile).

Evidence shows that increased exposure to fast food and takeaway outlets increases BMI in children aged 7 – 14 years.

Cost and benefits

We estimated this policy would cost the government £xx  to implement over five years.

5-year cost benefit
The table below shows a breakdown of costs.  The direct costs to the Government are estimated as a £xx  one off cost and a subsequent £xx  annual cost.  The costs to the food industry are estimated at a £xx one-off cost for [insert].

5-year cost benefit
We commission Health Lumen to assess the short term benefits of implementing this policy. After five years this policy would see a cost saving to the NHS of £xx .  New cases of [insert disease] and [insert disease] would reduce by xx% and xx% respectively. 

Long term benefits

Based on analyses conducted by Frontier Economics, this policy would result in a cost saving of [insert].