East Herts Council approves change of use for new Nando’s in Bishop’s Stortford

Planning permission for Nando’s to transform a Bishop’s Stortford shop into a new branch of its Portuguese-style peri-peri chicken restaurant chain has been granted.East Herts Council (EHC) has approved a change-of-use application from Jackson Square precinct owner Legal and General Assurance (Pensions Management) Ltd so the retail unit at 13-17 Potter Street (class A1) can be used as an eatery (A3).The shop was created as part of the shopping centre’s latest revamp and was once part of the QD Discount Store. A smaller unit also created during the conversion is home to a Mountain Warehouse branch.EHC planners have overruled their environmental health department colleagues, who recommended refusal of the change because of concerns about noise and fumes. As a condition of approval, the restaurant will have to take measures to ensure sound levels do not exceed the existing background level.The town council made no objection to the shop switch, but neighbouring business Eat 17 did ask the council to refuse permission.The Spar grocery store and street food market, which opened in October 2017, has two hot food vendors, Buffalo Joe’s and JRK, which sell spiced chicken.Planning consent for the new Nando’s outlet in Stortford includes the OK to open from 11am to 11.30pm through the week. The chain has submitted planning applications to EHC for a new shopfront and signage.Nando’s was founded in South Africa in 1987. It has more than 1,000 outlets in 35 countries, with around a third of these in the UK, where the first branch opened in 1992.