Community, Pubs & Planning
Since our autumn edition we have now heard that the owners of the Wheatsheaf in Brigham have applied for change of use and conversion to three
residential units. The Black Tom at Camerton is on the market, asking for offers of over £110,000. The owner suggests that it may be possible
to convert the pub into a house but again change of use would need to be approved.
Allerdale’s planning department have started that, particularly where the proposed change of use relates to the only remaining pub in a village,
they would have to be convinced that all avenues for keeping a pub as a going concern have been explored. In the case of the Wheatsheaf an
objection has been lodged on behalf of the local CAMRA branch, but planning officers and committee members are much more likely to take note if
they think that people who live in the village are also against the proposal.
This has highlighted the lack of understanding in local communities as to what rights they have to influence the fate of local amenities such as
pubs. Various people I have spoken to in the last few weeks have said “We’re not happy about it but there’s nothing we can do, is there?”
The answer is that the planning system does give local residents the right to object to proposals for change of use. A useful leaflet published
by the Community Pubs Foundation sets out the planning procedure:
• Planning permission is needed to convert a public house into residential use
• Anyone is entitled to object to an application
• The more objections received the stronger the case against change of use
• Permission is not required to convert a public house into a restaurant, café or shop
• Local authorities (Allerdale and Copeland Councils for West Cumbria) are required to consult the public on applications for change of use
• Objections normally need to be made within 21 days, however if the deadline is missed an objection can still be made up to the date when the
decision is made
• The relevant Parish or Town Council will be formally notified of applications for change of use and will be asked to comment
• Letters of objection should state the reasons for doing so, for example economic impact on the community, loss of a community amenity, potential
viability of the pub with proper management. Any letters can be viewed by the applicant.
• For potentially controversial decisions such as loss of a pub, officers will make a recommendation to the planning committee which will make the
decision in a meeting open to the public
• Objectors can ask to see the report from officers to the planning committee
A number of organisations give advice on such matters, here are a few of them:
-Community Pubs Foundation, www.communitypubs.org 01727 867201
-Royal Town Planning Institute, www.planningaid.rtpi.org.uk 0121 693 1201
-Pub is the Hub, www.pubisthehub.org 020 7333 6366