Westminster City Council use planning laws to put the "Brakes" on deliveries from operators

New rules are being put in place by Westminster City Council after they raised concerns over the use of Mopeds to deliver food from the 3,000 restaurants in the borough.

The Council are requiring restaurants providing the service, to apply for planning permission for a change of use and demonstrate that it will cause minimal disruption.

Council officials had a successful action against a branch of Nando’s when it was observed that: “large numbers of mopeds parking inappropriately, making noise and causing congestion outside the restaurant” as a result, a notice was issued preventing the delivery service from the restaurant.

Daniel Astaire, Westminster cabinet member for planning and public realm City AM: “We have nearly 3,000 restaurants in Westminster and the council needs policies to keep up with new technology, ensuring areas can cope with the increased demand for food deliveries. Left unchecked, this will create traffic chaos. These apps provide a fantastic service and we understand that for every delivery driver there is a customer. It is a popular, much-needed service but we can’t allow the city to be swarmed with delivery drivers.”

Operators in Westminster wanting to provide a takeaway delivery service, should apply for the necessary permission to avoid any Council prosecution.