Pub property agents predict more planning policies to protect pubs from councils

It comes as the Publican’s Morning Advertiser revealed last week that the London Borough of Lewisham has introduced a policy that says pubs will have to be marketed for three years before change of use is permitted.

Kevin Marsh head of licensed leisure at Savills believes that such moves could see other councils “tightening policies”.

He said: “I can’t see local authorities relaxing on this, it’s only likely to tighten their policies. It’s extraordinarily onerous. A lot of people look at it with their pubco hat on – that a pubco can afford to lose money. There’s not a lot of regard for the small operator or individual owner.”

Simon Hall director and head of pubs at Fleurets added that such policies will only stifle development.

“I think it’s rather ridiculous,” he said. “As with all of these policies, you could put something on the market for £1m even if it’s worth £250,000 so that it doesn’t sell. It would be better if local authorities say that it has to be proven to be priced at a realistic level for six months.

“It’s only going to stifle investment and development. It’s inappropriate because not all pubs are viable, and it is possible that other councils will roll this out because pub closures are a hot potato in the press.”

Guy Simmonds managing director Stephen Taylor said that it should be easier to change the use class of a pub because the UK is still over-pubbed. “You can’t buck the market, some pubs are just unviable.”

He added: “It’s a shame there’s so much inconsistency [in planning policies] — it almost requires Government legislation so we know where we are.”