Brent Council bans takeaway shops and shisha bars from opening close to schools and caps the number of betting shops in the borough

Cllr Roxanne Mashari, lead member for employment and skills (Image: Archant)

The restrictions have been rolled out as part of a new blueprint for the borough which will also protect pubs and bar new takeaways and shisha cafes from opening close to schools.

The borough’s housing crisis is also being addressed with the introduction of a new policy which insists on half of new homes on major developments being affordable.

The 74-page blueprint called the Development Management Plan (DMP) also aims to improve resident’s health and well-being, make the borough a cleaner place and tackle issues such as child obesity in Brent.

With around one in ten Brent children aged four to five years and almost one in four aged 10 to 11 years being obese, the borough has worse than average levels of childhood obesity.

Under the new plans takeaway shops will be barred from opening within 400 metres of a secondary school or other educational premises such as colleges.

Shisha cafes will also face identical restrictions.

The future of pub will be offered greater protection under the new policy with sites only being allowed to be converted to other uses if they meet a stricter criteria.

Planning applications in conservation areas will also face stronger scrutiny with special attention paid to enhancing the character and appearance of the neighbourhood.

Cllr Roxanne Mashari, Brent Council’s lead member for regeneration, growth, employment and skills, said: 2we’re working hard to improve living standards, make Brent safer, cleaner and greener, Support residents to be healthier and happier, and provide more opportunities to learn and work in the borough.

“This plan aims to help make this happen by giving clear guidance; such as what we can be built, where, how, for what use, where restrictions apply and why.”

To read DMP online visit brent.gov.uk/dmp.