Leeds Council Approves NCR Atleos ATM for Garforth High Street

Key Points

• Leeds City Council has granted planning permission for a new cash machine at Garforth Mini Market on Main Street in Garforth.
• Cash machine firm NCR Atleos applied to install the ATM within the shop entrance of the mini market on the town’s high street.
• A planning officer’s report for Leeds City Council concluded the ATM would be “dimly lit” and of “minor scale”, set flush into the existing shopfront.
• The report stated the machine would be in keeping with the character of the small commercial area and would not harm visual or residential amenity.
• Leeds City Council also examined potential impacts on road safety and the surrounding highway network before approving the plans.
• The planning officer concluded there would be no adverse impact on the highway network as a result of the ATM installation.
• The council therefore accepted the recommendation that the machine would be appropriate for its locality in design and amenity terms.
• The decision allows a further cash access point on a town high street at a time when many communities have seen bank branches and ATMs closed.

Garforth (Garforth Mini Market) January 15, 2026 – Planning permission has been granted for cash machine firm NCR Atleos to install a new automatic teller machine at the entrance of Garforth Mini Market on Main Street, after Leeds City Council concluded the high street ATM would fit its surroundings and pose no risk to road safety.

Why has permission been granted for a high street cash machine?

Leeds City Council approved the application after assessing the detailed planning submission to install a cash machine within the entrance of Garforth Mini Market, a convenience store on the town’s high street. The proposal from NCR Atleos sets out that the ATM will be placed in the shop entrance on Main Street, providing 24-hour access to cash for people using the commercial parade and wider neighbourhood.

In the planning officer’s report, the council examined how the machine would look within the existing frontage and how it would sit in the context of other nearby premises in this part of Garforth. The report described the proposed installation as being of “minor scale”, with the ATM to be set flush into the existing shopfront rather than projecting into the street or altering the overall building line. The official assessment emphasised that the machine would be “dimly lit”, signalling that illumination levels are designed to be modest and to avoid creating glare or nuisance for neighbours.

The same report concluded that, because of its modest size, discreet lighting and flush positioning, the cash machine would be “in keeping with its locality” in this small commercial area. The officer found that the new ATM would not have “harmful impacts to visual or residential amenity”, meaning it was not considered to damage the appearance of the area or the living conditions of nearby residents. On that basis, planning permission was recommended and subsequently agreed, enabling NCR Atleos and Garforth Mini Market to proceed with the installation.

What exactly is planned for the ATM at Garforth Mini Market?

Under the plans, NCR Atleos will install the new ATM directly into the frontage of Garforth Mini Market on Main Street, at the entrance to the shop. The machine is intended to be integrated into the existing elevation so that it appears as part of the established shopfront rather than as an additional structure fixed on top of it. This approach formed a key part of the council’s positive assessment of the proposal’s visual impact.

The planning officer’s description of the machine as “dimly lit and of minor scale” reflects how the design is meant to minimise its prominence on the high street, ensuring that it functions as a practical facility without dominating the shop façade. By being set flush into the frontage in a small commercial area, the ATM is expected to blend with other active ground-floor uses and retail displays on the street. The council considered this arrangement to be compatible with the character of the local shopping parade in Garforth.

Because the machine will be built into an existing opening rather than requiring substantial structural changes, there was no suggestion in the report of significant alteration to the building’s external form. Instead, the emphasis remained on ensuring that lighting, signage and the overall scale of the ATM remain proportionate to the setting. This was central to the conclusion that the proposal would be in keeping with its surroundings and acceptable in planning terms.

How did Leeds City Council assess amenity and visual impact?

The planning officer’s report for Leeds City Council focused on whether the new ATM would affect visual amenity, residential amenity and the character of the local environment. In assessing visual impact, the officer highlighted that the ATM is to be inserted into an existing shopfront in a small commercial area, limiting any change to the wider streetscape. Describing the installation as of “minor scale” signalled that, in the council’s view, the cash machine would not appear overly large or out of proportion with the rest of the façade.

Lighting levels formed another part of the visual amenity assessment. The reference to the machine appearing “dimly lit” indicated that any illumination around the ATM – typically provided for security and usability – is intended to be restrained. This was important to ensuring the installation would not create excessive nighttime brightness or glare that might be considered intrusive to residents or visually jarring in the town centre setting.

On residential amenity, the report explicitly stated that the ATM would have “no harmful impacts to visual or residential amenity.” In planning terms, this means the council did not consider the machine likely to generate unacceptable disturbance, such as from light spill or increased activity, nor to undermine the outlook or privacy of nearby occupiers. By integrating the ATM into an established commercial frontage and keeping its design low key, the proposal was judged to respect the balance between an active high street and neighbouring residential uses.

What were the council’s findings on road safety and the highway network?

Alongside visual and residential impacts, Leeds City Council examined whether the new cash machine could adversely affect road safety or the operation of the surrounding highway network. The planning officer’s report recorded that the council assessed the ATM from a highways perspective, looking at how the facility might influence pedestrian movements, parking behaviour and any interaction with traffic on Main Street.

Following that assessment, the officer concluded:

“It is considered that the installation of the ATM will not result in any adverse impact on the highway network.”

In practice, this indicates that the council did not foresee the machine causing dangerous congregation of pedestrians in the carriageway, obstructing footways or creating additional vehicle manoeuvres that might compromise safety. The position of the ATM within the shop entrance, rather than protruding onto the pavement, was an important aspect of this conclusion.

Because the report found no adverse impact on the highway network, there was no requirement for additional mitigation such as new road markings, conditions on operating hours or specific traffic management measures. The way the ATM is to be accommodated within the existing building and frontage helped satisfy the council that people using the machine would be able to do so without undermining the safe and efficient use of the nearby road system. This clear statement on highways impact supported the overall recommendation to approve the plans.

What does this decision mean for cash access on the town high street?

The granting of planning permission for a new ATM at Garforth Mini Market provides an extra point of access to cash on a town high street at a time when many communities have seen traditional bank branches and standalone cash machines withdrawn. By allowing NCR Atleos to proceed with the installation, Leeds City Council has effectively endorsed the principle of maintaining and enhancing cash availability in a local commercial area, subject to design and amenity safeguards.

For shoppers, residents and visitors in Garforth, the machine will be positioned in a central, visible location on Main Street, integrated into a convenience store that already serves passing trade. This placement is likely to support local businesses by making it easier for people to obtain cash while using nearby shops and services. It also demonstrates how planning decisions can balance practical community needs with protection of the visual character and safety of the public realm.