Mayor plans to crack down on hot food takeaways near schools

In a bid to tackle childhood obesity, the mayor of London Sadiq Khan is planning to crack down on new hot food takeaways around schools.

The draft London Plan is due to be published this week and contains detailed policy guidance on the mayor’s manifesto commitment to put restrictions in place around new fast-food outlets.

It says that new takeaways should not be permitted within 400 metres walking distance of an existing or proposed primary or secondary school.

A quarter of the UK’s takeaways are located within a five-minute walk of a school.

Where new takeaways are granted planning permission, they will be required to sign up to the Healthier Catering Commitment, a scheme supported by the mayor and promoted by local authorities to help caterers and food businesses make simple, healthy improvements to their food such as grilling or baking instead of frying and adding less salt.

Currently, almost 40 percent of children in London are overweight or obese when they finish primary school, the highest proportion in England.

Through his Health Inequality Strategy, the mayor is working towards a reduction in childhood obesity rates.

Health experts support the mayor’s recommendation to restrict the proliferation of takeaway shops, particularly around schools, in order to help create a healthier food environment.

There are currently more than 8,000 fast-food outlets in London.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Takeaway restaurants are a vibrant part of London life, but it’s important that they are not encouraging our children to make poor food choices.”

“I am working hard to create a healthier London and this must start with the food that our children eat. As promised in my manifesto, I am using all of my powers through my new London Plan to prevent new takeaways from being built just down the road from schools as part of a package of measures to tackle the ticking time bomb of childhood obesity and help us all lead healthier lives.”