Vol. 424 No. 6
94 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concern of local residents regarding the implications for a residential area if an existing local neighbourhood shop, which has planning permission for retail use, introduces new fashionable selling lines such as doughnuts, pancakes, kebabs and other such hot foods; and if he will review matters of this nature under existing planning laws.
A change in the nature of the retail trade or business carried out in a shop is, subject to certain limitations and exclusions, exempted development for planning purposes. While a change of use from a shop to a restaurant is covered by this exemption, change to use for the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises is expressly excluded from it and would, therefore, require planning permission.
The exempted development provisions of the Planning Regulations are being examined at present in a general review of the Regulations which is in progress in my Department.
