Principles to protect viable pubs from Co-op developments

The Co-op and the Campaign for Real Ale have drawn up guidelines, which will affect applications from the start of 2016.

The retailer said pub closures are not on its agenda, and the principles aim to listen to the community about the social value of each site.

Principles include:

• Only develop pub sites using the planning permission process rather than relying on permitted development rights.
• Seek to encourage developers to use the planning permission process rather than relying on permitted development rights to convert pubs into alternative uses.
• Individually assess each trading pub offered as a lease or development opportunity to assess the pubs social value prior to an agreement to convert a site into a convenience store.
• Give further investigation to pubs with an Asset of Community Value (ACV) listing ahead of any decision to proceed with a lease or redevelopment.
• Make information public as soon as possible about sites in which it is the developer (not lease holder), and it will encourage developers to do the same.
• Listen to the views of the local community – individuals, groups, including CAMRA branches, and local elected representatives and be willing to meet appropriate local representatives to discuss concerns.
• Not stand in the way of a any group seeking to acquire and run a community pub.
• Develop land adjacent to an existing pub in a way that enhances the viability of both the new convenience store and the existing pub.
• Talk to CAMRA when exceptional circumstances mean it may not be possible to fully adhere to these principles.

Successful community pubs

CAMRA said the guidelines ‘highlight the importance to communities of retaining successful community pubs, but also recognise that some locals close because of poor trading and cannot be retained in pub use’.

Steve Murrells, retail chief executive, Co-op, said: “Pub closures are not on our agenda. Our new commitments for future store developments serve to highlight the importance we place on working with communities.

Give communities a say

Co-op claim stores built next to existing pubs can be mutually beneficial. 

“We already assess the social value of a pub before entering into agreements to ensure we develop on sites where owners decide to close because of poor trading or which have ceased trading," Murrells continued.

"These principles strengthen our existing practices to give communities more of a say.

New applications​

The principles do not relate to pub sites where Co-op has existing legal arrangements but will cover any new contracts entered into after 1 January 2016.

CAMRA chief executive Tim Page said: “We're delighted that such a well-known retailer like the Co-op has demonstrated its commitment to communities and become the first to develop a set of principles to guide its store development with the needs and wishes of local people in mind.

"The Co-op clearly recognises the value that pubs add to the communities they serve and also the fact that supermarket developments can not only co-exist alongside pubs, but that both benefit each other."

CAMRA urges other retailers to follow similar principles when building on or near pub land.