Is Wandsworth the most pub friendly council
In August 2016, it was suggested that Wandsworth Council in London was potentially the most ‘pub friendly’ Local Authority, as it has introduced Article 4 Directions to restrict changes of use to public houses.
Wandsworth Council wrote:
Wandsworth has cemented its reputation as the ‘most pub-friendly council’ in the country by removing permitted development rights from 120 of the boroughs best loved bars and taverns. It means these valued local venues can no longer be converted into mini-supermarkets, estate agents, homes or shops without the need for planning permission.
Wandsworth is the first local authority in the country to publish ‘Article 4 Directions’ on this scale and the pioneering move could be copied up and down the country to help defend the nation’s vulnerable pub trade.
In recent years an alarming number of local inns and taverns, including many viable and thriving businesses, have been quietly converted into other uses. Councils have been powerless to stop them, as owners have ‘permitted development rights’ allowing them to make the change without the need for planning permission.
The fast spread of mini-supermarkets has exacerbated the problem, with the major chains competing all over the country to find new premises and often choosing to convert pubs rather than taking over existing retail units. But following Wandsworth Council’s ground breaking move all 120 pub owners affected will have to seek approval from the town hall before changing the building use or knocking it down.
In preparation for the Article 4 Directions, the council has already approved new planning guidance which specifically recognises the historic, architectural and community value of Wandsworth’s pubs.
This new policy, which prompted The Publican Morning Advertiser to ask if Wandsworth is officially ‘the country’s most pub-friendly council’, now gives councillors valid grounds to refuse applications to convert any of these 120 venues into another use.
Deputy council leader Jonathan Cook said: ‘Wandsworth’s pubs are now the best protected in the entire country and have a genuine defence against the relentless spread of mini-supermarkets and estate agents. We know how much our residents love their locals and in many cases they really are the epicenter of community life. I’m proud and delighted we’ve found a way to protect them. I very much hope that other councils will follow our lead by adopting pub-friendly planning policies and then stripping away permitted development rights from their local inns, bars and taverns. This could be a real turning point for our nation’s superb but vulnerable pub trade and Wandsworth is more than ready to share its approach with other authorities.’
Geoff Strawbridge, Greater London CAMRA Regional Director, said: ‘I would like to see every planning authority in the country follow Wandsworth’s exemplary initiative in protecting its pubs and bars by removing permitted development rights.’
The 120 bars and pubs were chosen due to their historic or architectural value or because they make a positive contribution to their community.
They include The Alma, The Ship and The Cat’s Back in Wandsworth, The Bricklayers Arms, Arab Boy and Railway in Putney, The Plough , Falcon and The Beehive in Battersea and The Selkirk, Trafalgar Arms and Wheatsheaf in Tooting and the Bedford, Regent and Prince of Wales in Balham. Some pubs that are currently closed have also been given protection, including the White Lion in Putney High Street and The Brewery Tap in Wandsworth High Street. It’s hoped this will give an added incentive to the owners to bring them back into use.
The Article 4 Directions were published on 12 August 2016 and pub owners have all been notified. Following consultation the Directions will need to be confirmed by the council enabling them to come into force in August 2017.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Local Authority
- Asset of community value
- Article 4 Directions
- Permitted development
- Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
- IHBC articles.
- Estate Agents
- Planning permission
- Planning authority
[edit] External references
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC’s HESPR pick: Heritage Impact Assessments sought for Northampton
The HESPR top pick for this week features a call for three Heritage Impact Assessments in Northampton, closing 16/09.
England’s Heritage Open Days celebrates 25 years!
England’s Heritage Open Days celebrates it’s 25th year with 25 new places opening their doors. Take advantage of a huge range of regular and one-off opportunities!
The incredible list of London Underground stations that never opened
You may think there are quite a few London Underground stations, and you’d be right as there are 270 stations in total on the network, yet there could have been many many more yet there are so many that never saw the light of day.
Famous Bowie Bandstand in Bromley wins listed status
Known to almost everyone as the Bowie Bandstand, The Bromley Times applauds its recent listing as ‘it should be protected forever’.
Out of Context and from ‘Building Services’: Lighting standards, World Heritage, and Bath
The city of Bath is well known for its stunning architecture and beautiful stone, but few might consider the everyday details like lighting.
Company fined £20,000 for unauthorised work on listed building
A property company has been ordered to pay £25,000 following unauthorised work on a listed building following a prosecution by Cotswold District Council.
New guidance on land sensitivity assessment from Natural England
New guidance from Natural England has been published on how to create a landscape sensitivity assessment to inform decisions on the planning and management of land use change which influence spatial planning.
Construction workers given Moodbeam devices to wear for mental health monitoring
Civil contractor Spencer Group is giving staff wearable devices that allow them to log their mood and monitor their emotional wellbeing.
The system for recognising EU qualified architects in the UK if there is no Brexit deal
The (MRPQ) will no longer apply if there’s a no-deal Brexit, and the UK government will maintain a system of recognition for architects with an approved qualification from an European Economic Area (EEA) state or Switzerland.