Fireaway Pizza in Norwich denied extended opening hours

Fireaway Designer Pizza in Plumstead Road has had a planning application to stay open for delivery orders until 1am shot down by Norwich City Council.

The takeaway has a five-star hygiene rating and four-star average on Google and opens every day between 1pm and 11pm. 

However, the business has been told it won't be able to open until 1am for deliveries on Friday and Saturday nights, with objections lodged against the planning application by an environment protection officer at the city council.

The objection stated: "The fact that the application 'only relates to two hours a week' doesn't make any difference, it would still be a frequent occurrence and as such any increased noise could be considered a statutory nuisance.

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"While Plumstead Road is normally busy, at this time of night we would expect traffic noise to be minimal meaning there would be hardly any background noise to mask the sound of car doors and motorbikes starting."

The comments also raised issues with the plan of the applicant, Ramki Foods, to limit noise disruption by using signs telling delivery drivers to remain quiet, only using delivery drivers on electric bikes and training drivers to be cognisant of noise - all issues that the business will not have much control over, despite promises to do so in the application.

Fireaway Pizza in Plumstead Road (Image: Fireaway Pizza)

A neighbour also objected to the application, writing: "The establishment already causes noise disturbance upon them closing which wakes me up at 11pm and, needless to say, the application to remain open until 1am will cause neighbouring residents unacceptable disruption during anti-social hours including odour, noise and light pollution.

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"It is clear the council has placed specific conditions upon this property to safeguard the residential community which is an extremely quiet area beyond 11pm. Therefore, I am requesting the council maintain this condition."

The city council rejected the application on Wednesday, stating: "The proposed extended opening hours would cause harm to the amenities of nearby residents and the applicant has not demonstrated any noise mitigation measures which would achieve acceptable noise levels."

Fireway Designer Pizza, which had previously also applied to stay open until 3am on Friday and Saturday, was contacted for comment.