The Neighbourhood Planning Bill, with the CAMRA amendment to place pubs in a Use Class of their own, returned to the House of Commons on Tuesday. The Government put forward its own amendment with the expectation that the CAMRA amendment would be withdrawn. Instead of proposing that pubs become ‘Sui Generis’ (in a use class of their own), the Government is proposing that they remain as an A4 use class, with the specific right to extend restaurant use of the pub without requiring planning permission. In practice, this would negate the issue which concerned us, whereby food-led pubs could have been disadvantaged by CAMRA’s original amendment.
The new amendment allows movement for ‘Class A4 (pub) to a mixed use consisting of a use within that Class and a use within Class A3 (restaurant)’.
The amendment was passed in the House and is expected to come into effect in July.
The Government amendment still means that the demolition of a pub would always require planning permission, as would change of use to a full restaurant or retail unit. Other permitted development rights such as alterations, moving walls, painting etc. are not affected by the Government proposal.