Planning Application for New High Road Cafe Set To Be Denied
Request for change of use at Hush Hush Chefs site recommended for refusal
The team at Hush Hush. Picture: Whitman Commercial
The premises at which a café and artisan food market on Chiswick High Road has recently opened looks set to have an application for change of use denied.
Hush Hush Chefs took over the vacant former mobile phone shop on 286 Chiswick High Road next to Gail’s Bakery earlier this month.
Prior to this the landlord had submitted a planning application to Hounslow Council asking for a change of use to allow hot food to be prepared and served at the site. They said that they had attempted to lease the unit as a retail site but were unable to find a tenant.
One objection was received to the application on the basis of noise and crowds around the premises in the evening. Hounslow Council planners, in a report on pending decisions, have said that the application is set to be denied due to the loss it would entail of retail space in the Town Centre which is contrary to the Local Plan Policy and restrictions on opening hot food takeaways within 400 metres of a primary school.
Hush Hush Chefs. Picture: Whitman Commercial
Hush Hush Chefs previously have operated through stalls at events such as Royal Ascot and Kew the Music as well as farmers’ markets. This appears to be their first venture in operating out of a permanent base.
They offer salads, quiches, bread, pastries, artisan produce as well as coffee and promise that all food is freshly made to order by highly trained chefs.
It is believed that, should the refusal of the application be confirmed, Hush Hush Chefs can continue trading at the location pending an appeal but, if this were to fail, they would be not be allowed to prepare hot food at the site.
Alain of Hush Hush Chefs said, "We can operate our business on A1 licence as we don't do any cooking or prep at the site and therefore the decision doesn't affect our trade. We have a 5 star professional production unit at Park Royal and all our food comes from there fresh daily. "
Cllr Dunne, Cabinet Member for Communities and Climate Emergency said, “Any unauthorised change of use is subject to a planning enforcement investigation. This particular premises is currently the subject of scrutiny by our planning enforcement team who will be in touch with the relevant parties when they have made their decision.
“We take breaches of planning regulations very seriously and we have a very strong record in addressing them. We are not afraid to take action to ensure the rules are complied with. Our planning enforcement team is extremely diligent, will take all relevant matters into consideration and will come to a fair decision.
“I would like to thank the team whose hard work, knowledge and expertise ensures we take action which benefits our community.”
August 17, 2020