Kettering piri piri chicken shop plan gets green light despite nearby competitors' pleas

A piri piri chicken chain has finally got the go-ahead for a new Kettering takeaway despite protests from nearby fast-food joints.

Plans lodged by Oscar Food Ltd in March 2022 revealed Pepe’s was looking to bring its flame-grilled wings and strips to an empty unit in Dalkeith Place, in a move which will create 16 jobs.

They’ve now been approved by North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) – but three takeaways in Silver Street were not happy at the plan.

Objections were lodged on behalf of addresses for Buffalo Chicken, Sam’s Chicken and Kettering Kebab House about the impact it would have on them.

Issues raised by them included that it would kill the intake of small businesses, that they believed the number of food sites in Dalkeith Place and Silver Street had been ‘fulfilled’ and that Kettering does not need more chicken shops.

However, market competition between firms is not a planning consideration that council officers can take into account.

One objection claimed that if more and more fast-food joints were approved it would see more kids in hospital, claiming it would be ‘like Birmingham and Bradford where there is a chicken shop on every corner’, but this was rejected.

NNC granted planning permission for for the change of use of the site – between the Earl of Dalkeith and a former Betfred – subject to a number of conditions.

A council report said: “Objections have been received from a number of surrounding commercial occupiers concerned that an additional chicken shop will have a detrimental impact on the health of local children and will prevent the purchase of adjacent properties to develop for upper floor residential due to the adverse impacts of smoke, noise and trouble on the streets, especially at weekends and the proximity to a public house.

"The objectors do not provide any evidence in support of their assertions.”

A previous planning statement by the applicants said: "The proposed restaurant will help regenerate the current building and help inject money back into the community by providing jobs to locals and providing a healthy option of food.

"The existing site is currently vacant. The proposal will promote an international food brand and become one of 150 stores serving a healthy option of food.”