The Government is to put forward its own amendment to the Neighbourhood Planning Bill next week, which will effectively remove permitted development rights for pubs.
However, the new amendment will not go as far as the proposal put forward by Labour’s Lord Roy Kennedy earlier this month.
Under the Government’s wording, pubs would remain in the A4 class use and will be able to extend restaurant use of the pub without requiring planning permission. However, any change to office or retail use will require planning permission.
Brigid Simmonds chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “We are looking at this in detail with our members, but it is clear that this new, alternative proposal from the Government has moved a very considerable distance to address our concerns, which is good news.
“Under this new amendment, rather than being placed in a class of their own, pubs would remain in the A4 use-class, with the specific right to extend restaurant use of the pub without requiring planning permission - we had been very concerned that food-led pubs could have been disadvantaged by the House of Lords’ original amendment.
“This proposal should also remove an incentive for local authorities to pursue Article 4 directions and for ACV ‘mass listings’, which would be a positive step.”
Commenting on news that the Government will put forward its own, new amendment on pub planning issues in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, Brigid Simmonds Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:
“We are looking at this in detail with our members, but it is clear that this new, alternative proposal from the Government has moved a very considerable distance to address our concerns, which is good news.
“Under this new amendment, rather than being placed in a class of their own, pubs would remain in the A4 use-class, with the specific right to extend restaurant use of the pub without requiring planning permission - we had been very concerned that food-led pubs could have been disadvantaged by the House of Lords’ original amendment.
“This proposal should also remove an incentive for local authorities to pursue Article 4 directions and for ACV ‘mass listings’, which would be a positive step.”
ENDS
