Save the Pub Group writes to councils urging greater protection for community pubs under planning rules

28-Mar-2013 - Last updated on 11-Mar-2017 at 19:27 GMT

The All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group has written to the leader of councils across the country urging them to make use of powers given to them under the National Planning Policy Framework to give greater protection to community pubs.

The group has also included a survey for councils asking for their views on the powers available to them to protect and support community pubs.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) introduced in March 2012, establishes new responsibilities for local councils to promote the retention and development of local pubs.

The group is calling on other councils to follow the lead of Cambridge, Bristol, Lewisham and Kensington & Chelsea in creating pro-pub planning policies.

Chairman Greg Mulholland MP said: “The Save the Pub Group welcome the introduction of the (NPPF), which for the first time establishes new responsibilities for local councils to promote the retention and development of local pubs. There have been a number of excellent examples of councils making use of these new powers to protect pubs and we are keen to see more councils follow their lead and introduce pro-pub policies.

“Of course there remain absurd loopholes in the planning system, which mean that councils are powerless to protect pubs. It is a scandal that viable and wanted pubs are being lost because pubs can be changed into supermarkets, betting shops and pay-day loan shops or even demolished without needing planning permission.

“I look forward to hearing from councils from across the country about the work being done at council level to promote and protect pubs from unwanted development and any concerns with powers they have to do so”

CAMRA campaigns manager Emily Ryans said: "High property prices means pubs are being targeted for conversion to other uses and particularly supermarkets, betting shops and pay-day loan stores. As a result, pubs are in crisis and 18 are closing every week.

"CAMRA is supporting the Save the Pub Group's campaign to urge councils to use their existing powers to support and protect pubs with strong local policies. This must be backed up by the Government closing loopholes in planning law that allow pubs to be demolished or converted to other uses without planning permission or community consultation."