A class act for pubs

Many fear that the coming clampdown on change of status will stifle innovation. Michelle Perrett reports.

Changes to the Use Classes Order (UCO) laws are set to come into force from April 21.

An announcement by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) at the beginning of this month revealed that this would see the planning class for pubs and bars move from A3 to A4.

New A4 category​

Under the current system a property classed as A3 is allowed to sell food and drink for consumption on the premises. But under the new system the existing A3 category will now only allow for restaurants and cafés.

A new category - A4 - will represent drinking establishments including pubs and bars. Pubs will be allowed to transfer into a restaurant under the new system, but a restaurant will no longer be able to change itself into a drink-led operation.

Planning minister Keith Hill published the regulations claiming it would give local people a greater say over the evening economy in their local area.

A government statement explained: "The changes will help local authorities get the right balance of businesses on the high street, boosting the evening economy while at the same time clamping down on the proliferation of pubs, takeaways and nightclubs."

Many in the trade have been outraged because they believe this move will be at the cost of innovation. There is also concern about transitional arrangements and how pub properties with food-led operations will be classed.

Imbalance of uses​

Trevor Watson, director at agent Davis Coffer Lyons, has been concerned by the move. Speaking at The Publican Confer-ence in November 2004, he said: "The government is introducing these changes because it thinks pubs are too prevalent in town centres, that there is an imbalance of uses, with no-go areas at night and that too many restaurants are being converted to pubs.

"In reality, restaurants are very rarely being converted to pubs, the stock of town centre pubs is now falling and it is more likely that pubs are being converted to restaurants."

A spokesman from ODPM said full guidance on the new system would be published prior to April 21.

From April 21​

• Class A3: Restaurants and cafés​
  Use for the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises.
• Class A4: Drinking establishments​
  Use as a public house, wine bar or other drinking
  establishment.
• Class A5: Hot food takeaways​
  Use for the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises.
• Nightclubs​
  No longer falling under class D2 and now "sui generis", in a legal class by themselves.
• Internet cafés​
  Now under class A1 retail.

Community has say in plans​

A new policy blueprint - PPS1 - aimed at developing more sustainable communities has been announced by the government. It aims to develop good planning through sustainable development.

Planning minister Keith Hill said: "We are putting stronger emphasis on good design, reflecting the importance that the government attaches to ensuring high-quality design is delivered through the planning system.

"PPS1 stresses the importance of ensuring all sectors of thecommunity are involved in developing the vision of the area and are given the opportunity to participate fully in the preparation of plans and policies. This community involvement will allow local people to say what sort of place they want to live in at a stage when this can make a real difference."