Pubs that are sold could be protected from developers who want to change the use of a venue under a proposed amendment to planning policy Westminster City Council.
The proposed legislation will protect pubs in Westminster as important community assets rather than see a change of use re-development from supermarket chains or housing developers.
The proposed policy CM24.1 states: “Public Houses will be protected throughout Westminster. Except where the unit has been vacant and actively marketed for that use for at least 12 months at a reasonable market price/rent and the council is satisfied that reasonable attempts to find an occupier have been unsuccessful.”
New occupiers would have to wait a period of 12 months to allow a new owner to take on the public house before an alternative use would be considered.
Andrew Barrypurssell, Westminster City Council’shead of spatial and environmental planning, said: “A 12-month grace period could be critical, as it would allow local areas, and the market, to decide if a pub is an important community asset. Westminster is developing its city plan and giving neighbourhoods more of a say in local planning policy.”
Pubs are closing at a rate of 28 per week, with leased and tenanted pubs accounting for 16 of those closures, according to figures from the latest CGA-CAMRA Pub Tracker.
