Colliers CRE slams government over planning reforms

Property consultants Collier CRE have slammed government plans to reform planning laws.

It has condemned an announcement from planning minister Keith Hill that "gone are the days of traditional pubs becoming burger bars and bingo halls becoming night clubs without consulting the local community".

At the moment a licensee or pub company has the flexibility to change the use of their premises from a bar to a restaurant without seeking additional planning permission.

But under the new system, which is expected to become law next year, the existing A3 category could be split between restaurants and pubs. This means that an operator would not be able to change the use of a site without planning permission.

Andrew Watt, head of licensed premises at Colliers CRE, said: "I believe that the forces of market supply and demand is already causing a slowdown in the development of new premises on the high street.

"To prevent new innovative operators from competing is in my opinion to the detriment of the consumers and the industry as a whole." Paul Stratford, associate director of planning and development at Colliers adds: "The purpose of overhauling the planning system is to speed it up. Clearly the changes to the Use Classes Order which the government is going to enforce will contradict their commitment to deliver a faster more streamlined planning system."

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