Proposed Extension for Shipping Container Vape Shop Deemed ‘Unacceptable’

The proposed expansion of a 24-hour vape and grocery establishment, which operates from shipping containers, has been labeled “unacceptable”. A retrospective planning application seeking to enlarge this business, situated adjacent to the Orange Street car park near Leeds Road in Bradford, was lodged with Bradford Council. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the enterprise previously functioned as a chai café before its conversion, with an additional shipping container being placed at the front of the café in April. Highways officers stated that the council-owned car park is designated for local businesses and residents, not for “direct use for any trading purposes.” A shipping container was initially installed beside the car park in 2020 and was subsequently transformed into a café named Chaii Walay. Retrospective planning applications for this café were submitted and rejected twice by Bradford Council. However, in late 2021, a government planning inspector reversed Bradford Council’s ruling. Following these events, Chaii Walay ceased operations and was succeeded by a store known as Super Stop. Regarding the current application, officers commented: “The loss of any public car parking spaces would be unacceptable.” They added, “Furthermore, the traffic generated would be likely to obstruct vehicular car park movements and could lead to conditions prejudicial to highway and pedestrian safety.” Concluding their assessment, they stated, “Therefore, this retrospective development is unacceptable in highway terms.”