By John Baron
A new cafe and bar has been granted planning approval in Horsforth – despite 11 objections.
Applicant Bee Futures Limited wants to set up Hive Horsforth and has successfully applied to change the use of the former Nawaab Khan Restaurant, which has been empty since January 2025.Â
The new venture will see £140,000 invested to refurbish the premises, on New Road Side.
It will operate as a café-style establishment during the morning, transitioning to a bar setting in the afternoon and evening.Â
Eleven objections from nearby residents were received by Leeds council, raising concerns over noise, disturbance and anti-social behaviour, as well as parking. Horsforth Town Council submitted a general comment and did not object to the proposal.
But a planning officer’s report approving the application said: “The proposed use of the site as a café and bar does have the potential to cause amenity issues through customer noise and activity.
“However, it must also be acknowledged that the immediate environs already include commercial uses and an extremely busy ‘A’ road.
“The latter in particular will generate a significant level of background noise for extended periods of the day. It is considered that, in such a busy environment, the proposal would not generate a level of noise that would be likely to exceed the existing background. In this context, noise from the premises would not be discernible for large periods of the day.”
Conditions imposed by the council include hours of opening between 9am and 11.30pm Thursday to Saturday and between 9am and 10.30pm Sunday to Wednesday. The outdoor front seating area can open between 9am and 9pm.
The applicants say the building will serve as a community hub hosting events, workshops and local group activities
Plans include new UPVC bi-folding window units, cladding, a retractible canopy and glass boundary divider.
The change of use plans can be viewed here.
- As reported by WLD earlier this week, Leeds City Council’s licensing sub committee decided to grant an alcohol licence with reduced hours at the premises.
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