Deliveroo to appeal against ruling to discontinue its dark kitchen
It has also been ordered to remove the “external extraction, ventilation and refrigeration plant, machinery and ductwork”.
Earlier in March, Brighton and Hove City Council ordered Deliveroo to stop cooking at the site in Olive Road, Hove. According to The Argus, the city councils said the company's planning permission did not cover commercial cooking activity. Deliveroo said the site is not open to customers so does not need the same planning permission as a takeaway. Further, its planning designation, for light industrial or warehousing use, is acceptable and the same planning designation – B1 – has been approved by councils for identical operations in Nottingham, Leeds, and London.
The injunction was handed down on March 1 and takes effect on April 5. The company has until July 5 to comply although an appeal might take months and the kitchen will be allowed to continue to operate meanwhile. The injunction states the company must cease operation of the building as a food preparation and delivery premises.
