Sadiq Khan to announce BAN on fast-food restaurants opening within 400m of London schools

Schools across London will soon be off-limits for fast-food restaurants in an effort to tackle the childhood obesity crisis in the capital.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is set to announce that new takeaways will be banned from opening up within 400m of schools later this week.

The policy, which will be set out in his draft London Plan, will also force all new fast-food restaurants – including fried chicken, pizza and fish and chip shops – to sign up to a minimum healthy food standards before they are granted planning permission.

According to the Evening Standard, the Mayor wants to deal with the “ticking time bomb” of childhood obesity in London.

Some 40% of children are either obese or overweight by the time they leave primary school – the highest anywhere in England.

Mr Khan said: “Takeaway restaurants are a vibrant part of London life, but it’s important that they are not encouraging our children to make poor food choices.

“I am using all of my powers through my new London Plan to prevent new takeaways from being built just down the road from schools as part of a package of measures to tackle the ticking time bomb of childhood obesity and help us all lead healthier lives.”

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Welcoming the news, Dr Yvonne Doyle, London regional director at Public Health England, said: “Our high streets are increasingly saturated with takeaways and our school children consume too much unhealthy food and drink on the high streets near schools.

“This plan will encourage a healthier food environment around our schools so that junk food is no longer the option for children nearest the school gates.”

The Mayor is also introducing measures that will require takeaways to agree to make food healthier by grilling or baking instead of frying.