We wish to object to planning application DC/11/78332/X requesting "the change of use of the ground floor at 76-78 Honor Oak Park SE23 to Use Class A5 (Hot food takeaway), together with the installation of a new shopfront at No 76, installation of new door at 78 and extract duct/air compressors to the rear at No 78".

In brief, the following are, our reasons for objecting:

- The parade at Honor Oak Park is a somewhat fragile retail ecosystem and it relies on planning policy to maintain the diversity of the services offered so that there is a critical mass to maintain viability of all the businesses.
-- There is already ample provision for hot food takeway at several establishments on the parade and in the wider area. There is no evidence of demand for another take-away establishment on the parade (a similar establishment recently went out of business directly opposite the proposed venue)
-- There is very limited provision for restaurants on the parade - this change of use application will result in further homgenisation of the offerings of the parade and in loss of amenity for nearby residents
-- The business model used by the applicant will bring no further foot-fall to the parade resulting in lower customer traffic and affecting the viability of the entire street

- The building in question, at the corner of Honor Oak Park and Grierson road is an attractive former bank with period features. It was sensitively developed by the former occupier and provides a high quality "gateway" for visitors to the parade from the railway station. Although the applicant has not yet submitted design drawings for their proposal, given the design of their other premises across the city, I do not expect that they will be in keeping with the quality of the building or with the significant position it occupies on the parade. The storage of bikes at the shop-front will likely further detract from the quality of the shop front and the area. If this application is to be approved then the very highest design standards must be required of the shop-front, signage and delivery bike storage.

- The nature of the proposed business is such that there will be motor-cycles required for delivery. Given the size of the premises it is presumed that this will be a major delivery hub with a significant number of motor-cycles. There is no information in this application as to the location where these bikes will be parked during the hours of operation or when the premises is closed:
-- if bikes are to parked on pavement, this could cause congestion/risk to pedestrians at the adjacent bus stop or to those travelling to/from the railway station.
-- if bikes are to be parked on Grierson Road, then consideration should be made as to the already congested parking in the area. For comparison, see D&M Van Hire at Brockley station which causes parking chaos due to lack of off-street parking.
-- if bikes are to be parked on Honor Oak Park, then consideration should be made as to the impact on already limited parking and the high traffic volume on that road
-- if bikes are to be parked inside the premises, there should be a risk assessment of the resulting traffic constantly crossing the pavement during hours of operation.

- Since this building is at the junction of the parade with a large residential area and a frequently congested main road, it is presumed that Grierson Road and the adjoining streets will be used as a "rat-run" for the delivery bikes (despite the road closure at that location). Consideration of the noise and traffic impact on the residents of these streets should be made in deciding whether to approve this application.

For these reasons, we urge the council to reject this application and retain the building as a restaurant.