New Planning Practice Advice Note approved to Protect Public Houses

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet approved today a Public House Planning Practice Advice Note, strengthening redevelopment protection for public houses in the District. The Planning Practice Advice Note will now go to Council for approval on 8 July. 

The Advice Note will ensure that existing planning policies for redeveloping public houses are applied to their fullest extent. Meanwhile those policies are being reviewed as part of making a new South Warwickshire Local Plan.

Many local pub closures encouraged the Council to form a 'Task and Finish Group' in October 2023 to prevent further "undue loss of public houses" that play such an important economic and social role across the District.  

The Group recommended stronger protection as well as more clarity for developers and officers in the form of the Advisory Note, thus ensuring that existing planning policies relating to the closure and redevelopment of public houses are applied effectively and robustly.

The Advice Note will remain in force over the next few years while the Council moves forward with the new Local Plan.

The Public House Planning Advice Note:

• Underlines the importance of pubs in the District, acknowledging its rural nature.
• Amplifies and reinforces the existing policy requirements, emphasising that developers must provide evidence that their plans clearly and rigorously meet the Core Strategy. It also draws where appropriate on best practice guidance from CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).
• Briefly highlights the benefits of registering public houses as Assets of Community Value and provides a case study of a community-run pub.
• Sets out sources of further information and advice.

Cllr George Cowcher, Deputy Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: "This much-needed piece of work will allow the District Council to ensure it is enforcing planning policies to their fullest extent and preventing the loss of public houses that play such an important part in the lives of so many of our residents".