The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has said that pubs must be front of mind when it comes to increasing planning flexibility, which will in turn help boost town centres and high streets.
It was responding to a government consultation on planning reform and said changes to planning classes would boost flexibility.
Chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said: “Although merging use classes A1 (retail), A2 (professional services) and A3 (food and drink) would allow for more mixed uses, it would leave out pubs, meaning use class A4 (pubs) must be given greater flexibility, too, so pubs can make better use of their space.
“The decline of the high street to date and closures to other public spaces has made pubs more precious than ever before. Many community pubs across the UK already house post offices, shops and libraries, and there are no reasons why large pub premises should not provide a similar offer in town centres.
“This requires further discussions to ensure that whilst pubs’ unique planning statuses are retained, they have the opportunity to act as mixed-use venues too.”
She added: “Town centres and high streets have a vital role to play in the need to build more housing, so the opportunity to extend buildings upwards is sensible.
“However, it is vitally important that the agent of change principle, which puts the onus on developers to protect existing businesses like pubs from noise complaints, is implemented vigorously and clearly identified in new guidance, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework.”
