Michael Gove Stops Papa John's Store Opening Due To Fear Of Obesity Among Local Children

Development Secretary Michael Gove takes a more interventionist approach to decision planning than his predecessor. Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Michael Gove's planning officials have blocked Papa John's pizza chain from opening a new store over fears it will exacerbate childhood obesity.

Deemed to be the first intervention of its kind, the Planning Inspectorate denied a request by Papa Johns to open a new site in Tyneside.

The local council has contributed. regulations restricting the opening of takeaway food outlets in areas where more than 15% of 6th grade students or 10% of foster students are classified as «very overweight».

Data showed that the obesity rate is 21.2% and 8.9% for 6th grade and foster students respectively, according to the recently released Planning Inspectorate Appeal decision.

Papa John's told officials that the takeaway chain offers «healthy menu options, calorie content, and no frying like other takeaways.» In addition, the proposed site was more than 400 meters from a middle or high school.

However, the planning inspector concluded that the distance from schools «does not mean that children would not be exposed to its products.» .

Papa John's cited a 2016 decision in which the Planning Inspectorate granted a building permit to rival pizza chain Domino after it appealed a similar North Tyneside City Council decision.

But the Planning Inspectorate concluded that «Papa John's proposal would harm the health of the area's residents.» The Planning Inspectorate is the executive arm of the Department of Improvement, Housing and Communities.

Despite being an independent body, Mr. Gove, the Secretary of State, appoints inspectors.

Mr. Gove has been criticized for taking a more interventionist approach to planning requests than with his predecessors.

“We have a brilliant architectural profession in our country. We have to be like that when we think about buildings, thinking about their aesthetic quality,” he told the Telegraph in April.

But Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the IEA, said: “This is a small example of that why the UK economy is in a death spiral. Despite all the government's empty talk about supporting business and growth, it cannot resist interference.»

A representative of the Planning Inspectorate said: «The inspector's reasoning is clearly stated in the Appeal Decision document.< /p>

“In making their decisions, inspectors consider the evidence presented to them in the appeal and apply the national planning policy.

“They must also apply the policy of local development plans, which may vary depending on the local area planning powers and which may result in different decisions on appeals regarding similar issues.”

Papa John's did not respond to a request for comment.