The All Party Parliamentary Group on Pubs (Pubs APPG) has asked the Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Select Committee to look at the implications of new government proposals for High Street Rental Auctions.
These proposals are designed to regenerate high streets, by letting councils in England auction off leases for vacant buildings, including pubs.
These leases would allow pubs to be converted into shops or offices, divided up into multiple units, or gutted of their bars, cellars, and other important fittings, all without developers needing to use the usual planning process.
The Campaign for Real Ale, which provides secretariat services to the Pubs APPG, has taken action, too, with its chairman writing to levelling up minister, Dehenna Davison MP. It has also asked its 150,000 members to email their MPs to call for pubs to remain protected.
“The pub is a beloved feature of so many high streets, and all recent legislation from the government has recognised their unique status at the heart of communities,” said Pubs APPG chair Charlotte Nichols.
“I believe these proposals are out of line with the kind of support that pubs should be given by policymakers, and I hope the select committee will take time to consider the full implications of High Street Rental Auctions.”
