CAMRA and APPPG urge pub developers to obey amended planning laws now

By Claire Churchard

- Last updated on GMT

CAMRA letter: Government amendment aimed to come into force by July. Picture credit: thinkstock.co.uk/bukki88
CAMRA letter: Government amendment aimed to come into force by July. Picture credit: thinkstock.co.uk/bukki88

Related tags Public house

Plans to develop or convert any pub in England should be subject to a full planning application process from now onwards, according to a letter sent by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the All Party Parliamentary Pub Group (APPPG) to big pub companies, NewRiver and supermarkets.

The joint letter follows the decision in parliament earlier this week​ to remove permitted development rights from the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, which will make it harder for developers to convert or demolish pubs. The letter calls it a “a significant step forward” in protecting England’s pubs. 

However, the letter also said that England’s 48,000-pubs estate “is currently vulnerable to development” because the legislation isn’t due to be passed until July this year.

As a result, the letter has called on developers to “work in the spirit of the forthcoming legislation” with immediate effect.

“To protect England’s pubs, the APPPG and CAMRA feel it is essential that industries support this legislation by ensuring that any plans to develop or convert a pub goes through a full planning application process between now and the change in planning law,” the letter said.

It went on to request that pub companies and supermarket chains “commit to submitting a planning application for any intention to convert or demolish a pub site".

Act of good practice

The letter said that this act of good practice “will bring confidence to pubgoers and pub campaigners who welcome this essential planning protection”.

The industry bodies also said they would publish a list of organisations, which have expressed their commitment to respect the spirit of the law.

In response to the letter, Punch chief executive Duncan Garrood said: “Having received the request from the APPPG and CAMRA, I am delighted to confirm that we, at Punch, are very happy to agree to the request.”

He said that the company’s public support for the amendment to the Neighbourhood Planning Bill prior to the debate in parliament indicated its positive intentions.

“While I think any Punch submissions for change of use will be absolutely minimal, if they are to be made, we will submit a planning application to show a constructive path forward,” he added.

“I think, certainly from the point of view of Punch, this has been a wonderful example of people, companies and campaigning bodies, all of whom care about pubs, coming together and working collaboratively.”

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