By John Baron
Council planning officers have refused proposals for part-retrospective change of a former tool and plant hire centre into a retail supermarket and ancillary café.
Bosses at Abu Bakr supermarket on Kirkstall Road also wanted planning permission to insert new windows to front and side elevations, flue and AC/condenser units to both sides, and build a bin store.
But planning officers have refused the application, saying it has “created and will continue to generate harmful levels of noise and disturbance in close proximity to residential properties, resulting in an adverse impact in the living conditions of these residents, particularly with regard to the proposed condenser units”.
There are also concerns about accessibility for people with disabilities and the lack of adequate parking, which planning officers say has led to parking and highway safety issues on neighbouring St Matthias’ Street and Banker Street.
Planning officers said the submitted plans and documents are considered to be inadequate due to a lack of information over the detailing and opening hours of the proposed café/restaurant. There are also concerns about the siting of the bin store.
Similar plans were refused by council planners last May due to a lack of information over opening hours and the change of use.
There was one letter of objection from a local resident, who was mainly concerned about noise.
Abu Bakr opened its Kirkstall Road store in 2021 and offers retail and wholesale halal products, including poultry, fish, ethnic foods, fresh fruits and vegetables.
The store is based in the former HSS Hire building. First established in Queen’s Road, Hyde Park in 2001, the halal supermarket has since opened in Dewsbury Road in Hunslet Carr and on Roundhay Road in Harehills.
The unsuccessful plans – and the council report refusing approval – can be viewed in full here. The applicant has the right to appeal to the government’s planning inspectorate against the decision.
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