Three use classes have been created by the government this week as part of proposals to stop town centres from becoming a “neon-lit, theme-pub hell”.
Under the regime, which will come into force in the summer, cafes and restaurants will have to apply for planning permission to become pubs or takeaways, even if the premises already has a licence.
Previously restaurants, pubs and takeaways have had the same classification, A3, making it possible for them to change into one of the other uses without planning permission.
Motor vehicle showrooms will also no longer enjoy permitted development rights to change to A1.
Hill said: “I want to see a vibrant mix on our high streets, not a neon-lit theme pub hell.
“Not everybody wants to live in the middle of downtown Las Vegas, and people have the right to walk down their local high street without negotiating an obstacle course of empty burger boxes and half-eaten kebabs.
“The days of cinemas and bingo halls being turned into nightclubs without an application to the local council are over.
“A thriving high street is one which provides a range of services to the community, from shops and banks to pubs and takeaways.”
The changes follow a public consultation period, which ended in April 2002 and received over 2,500 responses.
The policy marks a departure from the government’s initial policy, which would have created a single use class A for shops, banks and pubs.
Restaurants and cafes will retain their A3 classification, with a permitted change to A1 or A2 use classes but with all other change of use requiring planning permission.
Pubs and bars will now be classified under a new use class, A4, and takeaways will be covered by another new classification, A5.
Both A4 and A5 use classes will be permitted a change of use to A1, A2 or A3 classification.
Nightclubs, other than warehouse nightclubs, which will remain unclassified, will now be put under a third new use class D3, for late-night leisure uses.
Planning permission will be required for any change of use from or to D3 from any other classification.
Warehouse clubs will be re-classified as sui generic, while internet cafes will fall under A1 use.
References: EGi News 27/11/03
