Plans for a popular fried chicken and pizza brand’s sixth Liverpool branch could run into trouble with the city council. A late night staple in the city centre, Nabzy’s has lodged proposals to open its next venue on Smithdown Road.
The business, which started life in the heart of Liverpool, has asked the local authority for permission to open its next venture until 3am every day of the week. It took over the site in August, with hoardings outside advertising the impending opening.
Council objection lodged
However, the bid may face having to be reassessed after officials from Liverpool Council’s planning team lodged an objection. The proposals will now go before a licensing and gambling sub-committee hearing for a final decision.
On Facebook, Nabzy’s confirmed it had taken over the site on Smithdown Road, previously occupied by another hot food takeaway, two months ago. The company wrote: “We have wanted this place for a very long time! Finally we got it Smithdown Road.
“This is our ninth store in Liverpool and all together we have 21 stores. We love Liverpool and can’t wait for this one.”
Existing sites and planning rules
The business has eight existing sites across Merseyside stretching from Wallasey to Crosby. Five Liverpool locations have also opened, in Dovecot, Anfield, Garston, Norris Green and on Leece Street in the city centre where the business first began a decade ago.
Representatives from the council’s planning team have listed their opposition to the proposed 3am closing time at the new branch. In a written statement, officials said permission was granted in 2011 for the building to be used as a hot food takeaway and cafe until no later than 11pm.
This was to “ensure that nearby occupiers are not adversely affected by the development.” Planning chiefs said Nabzy’s seeking to open from 11am to 3am is “significantly beyond what is deemed to be acceptable in public amenity terms.”
Decision due in October
Smithdown Road is considered to be a district centre, which commonly refers to an area containing some shops and outlets serving an urban area. These are generally considered to be smaller than a traditional town centre.
Under such guidelines, the accepted closing time for a business like Nabzy’s in Liverpool is 11.30pm. In their objection to the licensing and gambling sub-committee, planning officials said: “Opening times beyond this would lead to detrimental impacts and public nuisance to nearby occupiers and any application to use the premises opening until 3am would be refused for similar reasons.
“If the terminal hours were reduced to 11.30pm, the Local Planning Authority would remove the objection.” As a result, the application will now go before the committee for a final decision at Liverpool Town Hall on October 27.
