Dark kitchen at Unit 1, Harwood Street, Blackburn

“Proposed Development: Change of use to form a dark kitchen (sui generis) including food preparation/cooking areas with no customer access and installation of extraction flue…”

“The application site is a two-storey commercial building, which is located within the settlement of Blackburn and the Copy Nook Secondary Employment Area. The latest former use involved storage for a building contractor, and its lawful use is for warehousing (Use Class B8). Commercial land uses surround to all 4 sides. Pedestrian access is gained from the front (west) off Harwood Street. A gated carpark is positioned to the rear (east). Vehicular access is gained from…”

“10.98/0112 – Construction of a window opening on gable wall – Approved, with conditions – April 1998. ➢ 10.93/0174 – Erection of security fence – Approved, with conditions – March 1993. ➢ 10.81/1689 – Change of use from manufacture (to) warehouse unit – Approved, with conditions – October 1981. ➢ 10.79/2275 – Erection of two blocks of five nursery factory units – Approved, with conditions – December 1979.”

“This application involves changing the use of the building to form a dark kitchen (sui generis). A food preparation area and supporting functions would be provided on the ground floor with storage above. A stainless-steel extraction flue is also proposed to the west roofslope. Subject to appropriate conditions, the proposed development would be acceptable on all the relevant planning grounds, in accordance with the policies detailed above in Section 3.4.”

“Section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires applications to be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Subject to appropriate conditions, the proposals would be acceptable in principle and in terms of impacts on public health, design and visual amenity, safeguarding amenity, and highways and parking.”

“For clarity, a ‘dark kitchen’ comprises of a commercial cooking space for the production of cuisine for the wholesale market. Meals are batched cooked and distributed to events such as weddings and parties through a delivery service. They do not involve visitors collecting meals from the premises itself, nor do they involve the production of small orders for delivery.”

“Our client’s model is to cater for large parties such as weddings and other events, cooking on-site with small-scale cooking for evening and weekends. The unit will be operated by a chef, assistant and a domestic assistant. One delivery driver will also be employed. The main function will be to cater for large events that only involve cooking on-site.”

“BwD Public Health – Paragraph 2 of Policy DM01 – Health, states that the development of hot food takeaways, or of hybrid uses incorporating such uses, will not be permitted in wards where more than 10% of year 6 pupils are classified as obese.”

“BwD Public Protection – No objections. Should this application be approved, a condition should be imposed to agree a scheme for the control of cooking odours and fan noise from the premises.”

“The proposed development has been publicised through letters to residents and occupants of the nearest 11 adjacent properties on 22/10/2025. In addition, a site notice was displayed on 11/11/2025. No public comments have been received for the application so far. Should any comments be received ahead of the committee meeting they will be presented as part of the committee update report.”

“Decision under Town and Country Planning Acts and Regulations –”

“RESOLVED – Approved subject to the conditions highlighted in the Director’s Report.”

“The dark kitchen use hereby approved shall only provide wholesale catering for private functions and events away from the application premises. There shall strictly be no customer access to the premises and no food orders taken from or delivered to the general public other than in the form of wholesale catering.”

“Prior to the installation of the extraction flue hereby approved, a scheme for the control of cooking odours and fan noise from the site shall have first been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development must thereafter be implemented in strict accordance with the approved details, and it must not be brought into use until the approved details have been provided in their entirety.”