A recent change in legislation has meant that it is no longer possible to change the use of a public house or demolish a public house without securing formal planning permission.
The change in legislation is designed to give public houses more protection. The implication of this change is that Permitted Development Rights can no longer be used as a means of circumventing policies which seeks to retain public houses as a form of community facility. Where Councils identify public houses as a community facility, viability and marketing evidence will need to be provided to demonstrate why the public house can be lost.
This goes hand in hand with applications to list public houses as Assets of Community Value – which can have implications for the disposal of public houses and the values that might ultimately be achieved.
If you have a development proposal which involves the loss of a public house please contact Chapman Lily Planning who would be happy to provide advice on the impact of the legislation changes.