Plans to change premises from a takeaway to a massage parlour in Townhill Park are due to go before the city’s planning and rights of way panel on September 2.
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The plans for 3, Premier Parade, Forest Hills Drive, are recommended for approval by council officers, but will go before the panel after five or more objections were received.
The site is on the ground floor of the precinct and has been in use for “many years as a hot food takeaway”, according to planning documents. There is residential accommodation above.
Twelve objections were received during a planning publicity exercise, including concerns over parking, business hours, “inappropriate use”, and the area’s “community character” and “reputation”.
Townhill Park Residents’ Association said it had been contacted by a “significant number” of residents who are “deeply concerned about this proposal and its potential impact on the community”.
“We are not opposed to new businesses opening in our area, but we believe they must be appropriate for the location, serve the needs of the community, and not risk undermining the family-friendly environment that residents value,” added TPRA.
A general view of a section of Premier Parade, off Forest Hills Drive, photographed in November 2023
On parking, the officer’s report to the panel noted that visitor numbers are likely to be lower than for the existing hot food takeaway, and that the “overall impact on parking is likely to be an improvement on the existing situation”.
Responding to concerns about siting the business in a “family residential area”, the report emphasised that the local authority has to determine the application “in good faith”.
“Any illegal activity that were to take place would require intervention from police and community safety professionals. This decision is made based on the applied for land use and material planning considerations,” it added.
None of the Bitterne Park ward councillors appear to have objected to the plans.
The planning panel is scheduled for 4pm on Tuesday, September 2 at the Civic Centre. Most council public meetings are also offered online, with the link generally published on the meeting agenda page.