AN application to turn a “coffee shop” into a take away serving burgers has been refused by Bradford Council.

In 2019 plans to build a coffee shop in a parking area of the Holroyd Business Centre on Carr Bottom Road, Little Horton, were approved by Bradford Council.

Earlier this year an application to convert the unit into a hot food take away was submitted to the Council.

Despite not being submitted as retrospective planning application, Google images from last September show that the coffee shop, Unit 9 at the centre, was called Buns N Crust, with a logo showing a burger.

And one supporter of the application wrote to the Council to say the business serves “burgers unlike any other place.”

Submitted by Althabur Rahman Shah, the application said: “Due to unprecedented circumstances, to be economically viable the business needs extended hours and the ability to earn income.”

When the coffee shop was approved, a condition was the business could only open until 6pm on Monday to Friday and 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Officers said this condition was needed to “preserve the amenity of neighbouring residents given the proximity of the unit to residential properties.”

Plans are refused over concerns of 'over concentration' of takeaways in Great Horton

As well as seeking permission to change from a coffee shop to a hot food take away, the new application sought to extend the opening hours until 11.30pm.

Sixteen people had written to the Council to support the plans.

But some letters of support seemed to contradict each other as to whether the business has been operating as a coffee shop or a burger take away prior to the application being submitted.

One supporter said: “If this place served hot food. We would support it more often.”

Another said: “We would prefer if it opened longer hours and served hot food options.” and one said: “We need a hot food shop for people working in the area especially during winter.”

But one letter of support said: “I am a patron of Buns n Crust Burgers, the business is a great innovative venture with burgers unlike any other place in Bradford or afar.”

However, planning officers at Bradford Council raised numerous concerns.about the take away proposals.

The Council has a policy that prevents new take aways from opening within 400 metres of a school, park or leisure facility. The take away would be a short distance from Marshfield Primary School’s outdoor education centre.

Officers said: “Unit 9 is within 400m of a youth orientated facility making the principle of the development unacceptable.”

Officers also argued that while the existing opening hours would not cause noise problems for people living near the business - the later opening plans would.

They said: “The extended hours of operation are therefore likely to result in conditions detrimental to the amenities of neighbouring residents by reason of noise, vehicular activity and general disturbance, particularly late at night.”

And the decision also said the application “fails to establish that the odours generated from the proposed hot food takeaway will be adequately treated and dispersed” - which would also impact the neighbours to the business.