ADZ pubs may see value drop

Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZs) will decrease the value of pubs, according to agents.

Local authorities have been given the green light to impose controversial ADZs after the Violent Crime Reduction Bill received Royal Assent.

But after objections from many councils, it is thought that the powers will not be used because they are seen as impractical and likely to create a bad image for the area.

The Bar Agency MD Rachael Peacock said: "I don't think a local authority will want to give a certain area of a town or city a bad reputation."

ADZs mean that places where people choose to drink supermarket booze on the streets or an area where a pub is known for disorder, can become controlled zones where local authorities can confiscate alcohol.

"If a licensee happens to own a pub within an ADZ, the value will drop. No-one wants to run a pub in an area black-listed for disorderly behaviour," said Peacock.

This could also be true of pubs near ADZs.

"If you're a licensee running a pub close to a disorder zone, the value of your pub will drop.

"The worst thing is, it will be through no fault of your own."

Guy Simmonds MD Stephen Taylor also thinks ADZs will have a detrimental effect on property prices.

"Town-centre pubs are harder to sell than village

freeholds anyway. This will not only affect the value of a pub, but also the saleability," said Taylor.

"It's a sign of the times - the amount of power that a local authority has. This could affect the value of houses in an ADZ as well as other retail outlets.

"I don't think many councils will make use of it," added Taylor.