New planning rules could blight high streets with empty pubs, experts warn

Key facts

• New planning rules aim to prevent pubs from being redeveloped into housing or offices.
• Developers must demonstrate a pub has no reasonable prospect of continuing operation.
• A 12-month listing period is required before a pub can be redeveloped.
• Property investors and developers warn these rules could lead to empty pubs on high streets.
• Hospitality industry figures support pub protection but highlight tax burdens.

New planning rules designed to protect pubs from redevelopment into housing or offices could inadvertently lead to more empty venues blighting high streets, property experts have warned. The reforms, outlined in the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), stipulate that developers can only convert a pub if there is no reasonable prospect of it continuing to operate. Additionally, proof must be provided that the pub has been listed for sale for at least 12 months.

Real Estate UK, an industry body representing property investors and developers, has cautioned that these measures could backfire. Ion Fletcher, policy director for the group, stated that forcing a year-long wait for redevelopment could burden town centres with vacant pubs. He argued that unsustainable costs, rather than developers, are the primary reason pubs close, even when community support exists.

Other property professionals echoed these concerns. Nick Leavey, a property lawyer at Morr & Co, suggested the proposals might turn struggling pubs into "stranded assets," leaving empty buildings in their place. James Clark, head of planning at Foot Anstey, noted that the 12-month requirement could delay regeneration projects when a return to the pub's former use is unlikely.

While hospitality industry figures welcomed efforts to safeguard pubs, they emphasized that recent tax increases, such as business rates and national insurance, pose a greater threat. Allen Simpson, chief executive of UK Hospitality, urged the government to prioritize addressing these financial burdens on the sector.