Why have councils (if governments override planning decisions?)

Angela Chick, Just One Card

The town of Sheringham in North Norfolk is renowned for being home to many independent shops. It lost a  gigantic 13-year battle against a big Tesco store opening, since when many local shops have gone to the wall. The council even approved Tesco over its own indie shopkeepers.

But what has recently happened is even worse. And actually quite shocking:

Local residents (for the most part) did not want a Domino’s pizza outlet, as it already has over 40 indie food outlets, and doesn’t want littered plastic pots everywhere.

This time the council backed the residents, and also refused. Yet this decision was overriden by national government, and now it’s opened up!?

So what is the point of local planning departments, if big companies (where profits go out of the country) just go above the council’s heads, and open up anyway?

Tourists will likely use it, and locals will be left with less indie shops, and more litter to clean up.

North Norfolk District Council and Sheringham Town Council both agreed that the town had enough hot food takeaways, and a national chain would threaten the character of the local high street. This is a town where (apart from Tesco), nearly all the shops are locally-owned and unique.

But in early 2025, the national Planning Inspectorate overrode the decision. So now people will be paying a whopping £16 for a bit of dough and a few toppings. And the town will be littered with white plastic sauce pots. Presumably the chain is not going to fund the clearing up of them. This will go onto council tax, for local residents.

What is the reaction of local residents?

A few people don’t mind. But overall there is outrage. The council also says that it will do nothing to improve public health (a reason why many councils are refusing planning to new McDonald’s chains, especially located near schools).

But mostly it’s outrage that pen-pushers far away, have decided (against the wishes of a local town’s residents and council) that it will override democratic decisions, which will negatively affect local businesses, and create more litter.

Local indie shops also keep money in communities. After paying staff, all the profits from Domino’s will go back to the USA base.

Even worse, the chain has also launched a branch in a village on the Norfolk Broads, home to some of our most wonderful birds and wildlife. Known as ‘England’s Amazon.

There is no big ‘national boycott’ in place. But locals are urging residents and visitors to simply vote with their wallets, and support local pizza and other eateries instead. And spend money to help local independent shops, run by family businesses that have been there for decades.

Or failing that – make your own pizza at home!