The Licensing Sub-Committee of Redbridge Council was scheduled to meet on Thursday 23 July 2026 to consider an application for a new premises licence for Naan Staap, located at 209 Ilford Lane, Ilford. The meeting's agenda also included a review of the procedure for licensing hearings.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The committee was scheduled to discuss the established procedure for conducting licensing hearings. This procedure outlines the order in which cases are presented, including the applicant's case, representations from responsible authorities, and cases from interested parties. It also details the process for questioning and summing up before the sub-committee makes its decision in private.

Application for a New Premises Licence: Naan Staap, 209 Ilford Lane, Ilford

The primary focus of the meeting was to consider the application for a new premises licence for Naan Staap, a quick-service restaurant at 209 Ilford Lane, Ilford, IG1 2RU. The applicant, Zuhaib Shahnawaz, director of Naan Stap Ilford Ltd, sought to enable the licensable activity of late-night refreshment.

The application requested the premises to be open to the public and for licensable activities, including recorded music and late-night refreshment, to operate from 09:00 to 02:00, seven days a week. The premises is described as a takeaway with indoor dining for approximately 35 customers, serving food and non-alcoholic beverages. No alcohol would be supplied on the premises.

Report pack information indicated that three objections were lodged by responsible authorities: the Metropolitan Police Licensing Team, the Council's Licensing Enforcement Team, and the Community Protection Task Force. These objections were based on concerns that the application could negatively impact the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. Additionally, two objections were received from interested parties, raising concerns about all four licensing objectives.

A key point of contention was the premises' location within the Ilford Town Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ). The Council's Statement of Licensing Policy establishes a presumption against granting new licences in CIZs unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated to show that the application will not add to cumulative impact. Representations from the Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Enforcement Team highlighted that the requested hours extended significantly beyond the framework hours for licensed restaurants and cafes in the area and that the applicant had not provided sufficient information to demonstrate exceptional circumstances or adequately address concerns about noise, litter, and anti-social behaviour, particularly from delivery drivers. The Community Protection Team also raised concerns about potential increases in noise, litter, and disturbance to local residents, as well as the impact on public safety and the protection of children from harm.

The report pack outlined the potential decisions the sub-committee could make: to grant the application, grant it with additional conditions, grant it in part, or reject it. The decision was to be communicated to the parties within five working days.