Plans for KFC in Birmingham spark concern over ‘public health risk’

An application was recently lodged for an extension in hours so ‘late night refreshment’ can be provided from 11pm until 5am at the KFC outlet in Battery Retail Park, Selly Oak.

Permission was also being sought to provide ‘regulated entertainment’, consisting of recorded music to operate indoors only, from midday until 3am.

But prior to a licensing meeting earlier this month, the council’s public health team “strongly recommended” refusal of the application.

In particular, they said they had “significant concerns” and argued granting the extension in hours could “undermine efforts to improve health outcomes in Selly Oak”.

“The proposed extension poses disproportionate risks to public health and community wellbeing, particularly in a locality already facing challenges related to obesity, youth vulnerability, and anti-social behaviour,” they wrote.

Solicitor Ewen Macgregor, representing the applicant Demipower Limited, addressed the concerns during a licensing meeting held this month, saying his client was the “largest KFC franchisee in the country”.

“They are obliged to comply with the KFC brand standards – one of which is the commitment to being a good neighbour and also the KFC nutrition update,” he said.

“They are also an experienced operator of late licensed premises. They have never had a licence reviewed, let alone revoked.”

“None of that happens by accident,” he continued. “Each site is supported by head office and they are committed to working collaboratively with the stakeholders in the local authority area.”

Mr Macgregor also noted that a “significant number of conditions” were already attached to the licence, which covered CCTV, staff training and litter collection.

“My clients are of course respectful of the concerns the public health body has made in their representation,” he went on to say. “But this is not the forum to address those concerns – you are constrained by the promotion of the licensing objectives.

“The concerns particularly articulated by public health do not address the issues in relation to those licensing objectives.”

“Not unsympathetic to the concerns they have raised in relation to issues of obesity but as I said earlier, this is not the forum in which to address those – there are other areas in which those matters can be addressed.”

He also reminded the licensing sub-committee that alcohol was “not a feature” of the application.

The parties involved will be notified of the licensing sub-committee’s decision within five working days.