UK Laws for Change of Use of Pubs

UK Pub Conversions- Change of Use
6 pubs a week are calling last orders for the last time with the asking price of the buildings low enough to tempt property developers as well as other retailers. Planning laws on change of use may restrict development to residential property on pubs in certain areas; a city centre pub is more likely to gain permission for conversion to a residential property than the only pub in the village, and some pubs are advertised for sale with full change of use/ planning.
Agents at London-based Paramount Investments said the company would prefer to sell to a new pub landlord but would consider other buyers. Paramount managing director Mark Greig said: “Not all pubs which close down are redeveloped as housing. A lot of them reopen again as pubs or as other businesses.” He added: “Falling property prices are creating tremendous bargains within the pub market for licensees and other entrepreneurs”
So if residential conversion is not available, what changes can be made to the use of the pub for other businesses?

The following classes of use for England are set out in the Town and Country Planning Order 1987. Pubs are in the A4 ‘Drinking Establishment’ class, and can be converted without permission being sought to any of the following;
A1, Shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post offices, pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, dry cleaners and funeral directors
A2 Financial and professional services - Banks, building societies, estate and employment agencies, professional and financial services and betting offices.
A3 Restaurants and cafés - For the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises - restaurants, snack bars and cafes
Paramount managing director Mark Greig said “Pubs often appeal to retailers because there is a natural crossover in space requirements. As pubs are often around 4,000 sq ft (370 sq m) and have a floor-to-ceiling height of around 8 ft (2.4 m), the sales space is ideal. Furthermore, because pubs also need both basement space for heavy duty equipment and space for deliveries, retailers often find they have ready-made sites for storage.”
UK Pub Sales Agents: Paramount Investments are specialists in the sales and leasing of UK pubs, including freehold pubs, leasehold pubs, inns, public houses, pub tenancies and managed houses.

For further details please contact the investments team on 020 7644 2333

Web: www.paramount-investments.co.uk/
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