Plans for a new hot food takeaway in Oldham have been approved, despite neighbours objecting to it potentially bringing 'cooking smells' and litter.

In November last year, a proposal was submitted from Subhan Saleem on behalf of the applicant to transform a ground-floor storage unit on West End Street into a hot food takeaway with a canopy duct.

The proposed premises sits further down the street but near the popular Wonderlust Bistro and Bakery on Library Lane.

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The plans reveal the premises would have a large kitchen with separate cold storage, a counter, a customer toilet and several tables and seating areas.

As the site sits on a car park, it already has spaces to accommodate up to 21 cars.

At least three neighbours wrote their objections to the plans with one citing the takeaway would bring about a "cooking smell" that would affect their family and children "who have [an] asthma condition".

The objector also said the takeaway could bring "serious litter problems", with students already parking on the street to eat lunch in their cars and reportedly leaving the rubbish on the pavement.

The comment added: "I also have concerns about anti-social behaviour. Gangs of boys hang around on the weather pitch, causing problems. Now, they will hang around this proposed food place and stay longer on the whole street, affecting families and young children."

Another objector agreed, saying "youths" currently hang around the area near the weather pitch and that the location of the takeaway is "very worrying" as the youngsters could meet around the main roads and "run across the carriageway".

Others also raised concerns about parking, citing the existing venue often doesn't have enough parking space.

One neighbour said they struggle to park outside their home on weekdays.

They also raised the concern about takeout food smells which could attract rodents and added: "Don't need more takeaways. Already loads of takeout places nearby such as Union Street and Featherstall Road."

However, in one supporting comment, a neighbouring business said the takeaway would benefit the area by bringing a sense of safety and security, plus additional revenue to the area.

The supporter added: "The comments regarding disturbance for families does not make logical sense due to the fact that there are no residential premises attached to the specific block where the proposal for this business has been made.

"The two wedding halls which were mentioned do not trade 7 days a week, nor do they trade all hours of the day in any specific date they may hold an event so the reason of parking does not make sense.

"A takeaway cannot bring risk to members of the public and the issues regarding rodents are not based on a food business itself, it is more towards the fact that the households are not keeping on top of their waste as currently the rodent issue is there, so this cannot be a reason as the problem is already there."

The commenter continued: "A decision has to be made based on facts rather than opinion."

Assessing the proposal, planning officers said its neighbouring unit was granted planning permission to be used as a conference hall in 2021 and historically, both were granted permission to be used as a cash and carry facility.

Planning officers also deemed there to be a "need" for the takeaway, having found there are no other hot food eateries on West End Street.

The applicant also stated the takeaway would provide "natural surveillance" for residential homes on Hilda Street and other businesses when the industrial estate is closed.

In addition, planning officers said as there are "barely any amendments to the elevation", other than the canopy duct, the takeaway would have very little impact on the existing street scene.

When it came to noise, officers found residential properties sit 50m away and the site is also adjacent to the Oldham Way, "which carries its own noise and disturbance", meaning the takeaway alone does not pose any significant disturbance.

As for parking, the planning report pointed out the large car park at the front, which is suitable for the conference hall and takeaway deliveries, and further found that there would not be a lot of customers that would overwhelm the space.

As a result, Oldham Council approved the plans on April 18 this year.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.