Research by Sell House Fast of more than 800 approved or conditionally approved planning applications found pubs and public houses accounted for 276 of 810 applications since 2021.
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Banks were second, with 242 applications, followed by churches at 115, chapels at 104 and post offices at 73.
The figures come as separate analysis showed one pub a day disappeared from the UK last year, with former sites increasingly being converted into residential, retail or other commercial uses.
Residential conversions
Of the former pub applications analysed, 198 included residential use, making homes the most common new purpose for former pubs.
Across all building types included in the research, residential use appeared in 539 approved or conditionally approved applications.
However, some former pubs are continuing to serve public facing roles, with 32 pub applications including hospitality or food and drink use.
Sell House Fast said former pubs often occupy strong locations and have distinctive features, making them attractive for redevelopment or alternative use.
Founder and managing director Jack Malnick said: “Buildings often reflect the needs of the communities around them, and those needs naturally change over time.
“The rise in conversions shows that many older properties still have significant potential when their original purpose has changed.”
Community impact
Malnick said former pubs, banks and community buildings could be attractive for a range of new uses, but added the challenge was balancing preservation with adaptation.
He added: “The challenge is finding a balance between preserving what makes these buildings valuable while adapting them for the future.”
The analysis noted that pub conversions can be complex for communities, with repurposing preventing buildings from falling into disrepair while also changing the character of local areas.
Sell House Fast said the research was based on PlanIt indexed planning applications approved or conditionally approved from 1 January 2021 onwards, and was not a complete audit of every building conversion in Britain.
The company added that planning approval does not confirm proposed works were completed.
