A recent planning application for a new drive-thru McDonald’s on land north-west of London Road and Broadfield Road in Lowfield, Sheffield (S8 0ZF) has prompted significant public concern and formal objections from Sheffield City Council’s Public Health department. The proposed location lies less than 200 metres from Lowfield Primary School, and within walking distance of Heeley People’s Park and the Sheffield Islamic Centre — a detail that places it under close scrutiny when viewed against both national and local planning guidance on healthy food environments.
At the time of writing, over 140 public objections have been submitted through Sheffield City Council’s planning portal, with residents, campaigners, and local groups raising questions about the proposal’s implications for health, environment, and the long-term vitality of Sheffield’s independent food economy.
While fast food outlets remain a fixture in many communities, there is increasing recognition of the impact their density and location can have on public health. National guidance from the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) — which planning authorities are advised to follow — clearly states that local authorities should “refuse applications for hot food takeaways” when; A) within walking distance of schools and places where young people congregate (unless within a designated town centre), and B) where there is evidence of a negative impact on public health, local pollution, or anti-social behaviour.
In Sheffield’s case, this proposed drive-thru is not located within a designated town centre and is just a few minutes’ walk from a local primary school and park, both highly frequented by children and families. Additionally, concerns have been raised that this application conflicts with Paragraph 92 of the NPPF, which encourages planning decisions to support “healthy, inclusive, and safe places.”
This aligns with Sheffield’s own Local Food Action Plan (LFAP), which sets out a citywide commitment to creating “a fairer, greener and healthier food system.” One of the priority actions under the Plan is to “pursue hot food takeaway planning policy as proposed in the draft Sheffield Local Plan” — specifically, that no new takeaways should be permitted within 800m of a school. Though the Local Plan has not yet been formally adopted, this policy direction reflects growing public health concern about the easy availability of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods to children and young people.
Sheffield City Council’s Public Health department is planning to lodge an official objection to the planning application. Their stance is based on a combination of national planning guidance, local policy goals, and scientific evidence linking fast food access to rising rates of childhood obesity, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
In addition to concerns about diet and long-term health, objections have highlighted the potential for this new drive-thru to contribute to: Increased traffic and air pollution at an already busy junction; the normalisation of fast food in areas frequented by young people; a saturation of similar outlets, potentially undermining the viability of local, independent food businesses; and the potential loss of green space and biodiversity, as the proposed site is near existing community and recreational areas.
While many of these objections fall within the remit of local planning departments to assess, they also reflect deeper questions about what kind of food system Sheffield wants to support — and what role community voices can play in shaping that vision.
As Sheffield’s citywide food partnership, ShefFood brings together community organisations, food businesses, educators, growers, and public sector partners working collaboratively towards a better food system. Our work is guided by the city’s Local Food Action Plan, developed with input from across Sheffield to support healthy food access, independent local businesses, sustainable land use, and food education.
Applications for new fast-food outlets located near schools, such as the recently submitted proposal for a McDonald’s drive-thru near Lowfield Primary, raise important questions about how planning decisions align with these shared goals. With childhood obesity, air quality, and the resilience of local food economies all on the agenda, the conversation goes far beyond convenience or personal choice.
This application also serves as a reminder of the need to integrate food into broader policy considerations — from planning and public health to transportation and environmental strategies. As Sheffield’s Local Plan progresses, the links between these areas will only grow more critical.
A peaceful protest, organised by Green Party activists, will take place outside the proposed site on Wednesday, 30th April and with public objects continuing to come in, it’s exciting to see Sheffield folk engaging in this level of food citizenship. Residents who wish to engage with the planning process can view or comment on the application by visiting the Sheffield City Council planning portal and searching for “Land North-West Of London Road And Broadfield Road, Sheffield S8 0ZF” or following this link to the application. The deadline for comments is Wednesday, 7th May.
Public participation is vital to shaping a food system — and a city — that works for everyone.