The updated National Planning Policy Framework, expected to be published today, will reportedly require developers to prove there is no reasonable prospect of keeping a pub trading before a change of use is approved.
Join our WhatsApp channel: The Morning Round-Up
Get the biggest pub trade stories straight to your phone. Listen to our one-minute daily news briefing and receive breaking news, exclusives and sector updates throughout the day....just remember to turn notifications on in top right corner!
According to reports, evidence will need to include proof the pub has been marketed for sale for at least 12 months.
Councils will also be expected to consider whether losing a pub would deprive a community of a place to gather.
The Government had previously consulted on protections for the last pub in an area, but ministers are now expected to widen the approach to all pubs facing conversion.
Cost pressure
The changes come amid continued concern over pub closures, with British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) figures showing around two pubs a day closed in the first quarter of 2026.
UKHospitality chief executive Allen Simpson told The Morning Advertiser (MA): “The biggest issue facing hospitality businesses is costs like VAT and business rates pushing pubs out of business in the first place.
“Anything that makes it harder to take these important assets away from their communities has to be welcomed, but the Government should focus on continuing its strong start on fixing the harm done to hospitality over the past two years.”
Community protection
CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins told the MA the expected changes were “fantastic news for pubs and communities”.
Putting more power into local people’s hands to help them save successful and valued locals from greedy developers trying to cash in and turn otherwise viable pubs into other uses like houses, shops or takeaways is the right thing to do.
CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins
“We need to see the full details being published later today, but we are delighted that ministers have listened to thousands of CAMRA members who demanded greater protections for pubs in England in the planning system.
“We hope these increased protections will help save countless viable pubs and keep them at the heart of community life. The Government should continue its pro-pub agenda by announcing more support for drinkers, pubs and independent brewers in the Autumn Budget.”
Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) chief executive Michael Kill also welcomed the move, but warned other hospitality and night time economy businesses should not be overlooked.
He said: “We welcome the Government’s move to strengthen protections for 30,000 pubs. These businesses are vital cultural and community assets and absolutely deserve to be protected. But pubs do not exist in isolation. They are part of a much broader hospitality and night time economy ecosystem of around 90,000 businesses.
“That leaves approximately 60,000 businesses, including nightclubs, grassroots music venues, bars, restaurants and other night time economy operators, asking a very simple question: what about us?”
Kill added the Government must recognise and protect the wider “economic and cultural ecosystem”.
The move follows wider debate over how to protect pubs as community assets, with campaigners warning viable sites can be lost to conversion or demolition when operators or communities are not given enough time to find alternative ownership or trading models.
There has been a number of community pub rescue campaigns this year, including efforts to save the Somerset Arms, while the Government has also backed community ownership through schemes such as the Community Right to Buy.
In July, the Government announced pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England would receive a 20% cut to business rates from April next year.
However, operators and trade bodies have warned the measure is only a first step and have continued to call for wider tax reform, including a lower VAT rate for hospitality.
