Change of property use getting harder

Changing the use of your property from a restaurant to a pub or vice versa is about to become a lot harder, following the introduction of new laws this summer.

Currently, restaurants, pubs, bars, caf‚s and take-aways all fall within class A3 of the 1987 Use Classes Order, meaning that no planning permission is required to alter the use of a property.

But the new legislation will reclassify pubs and bars as A4 and take-away restaurants as A5, meaning that any changes will make official planning permission necessary.

Mark Harnett, an associate at law firm Fladgate Fielder, advises anyone thinking of changing the use of their property to do so before the new order takes effect.

Owners could also officially establish a "second use" now or, if the current operation already entails both a restaurant and a take-away service, get formal confirmation of this from the council to avoid reapplication.