MP’s are meeting on Monday 26th January to discuss a change in planning law known as NC16 (New Clause 16) which if passed means planning permission will be required before an pub can be converted into a retail store, office space or knocked down.
Recent research provided by CAMRA (Campaign for real ale) has revealed that an astounding 31 pubs on average close every week in the UK, of those 2 pubs each week were being converted into supermarkets.
Currently pubs are being targeted as they are not protected under class A4 planning laws which enable them to be turned into A1 class use (i.e. retail stores and supermarkets), going forward if communities wish to protect their local pubs gaps in planning laws must be addressed and NC16 would do this.
