Southwark follows Wandsworth in setting up Article 4 Direction for pubs

Southwark Council has become the second London council to withdraw Permitted Development Rights from the redevelopment of pubs.

The council’s planning committee voted on 7 March to follow Wandsworth Council in making an Article 4 Direction to withdraw Permitted Development Rights in an effort to add an extra degree of protection for the pubs in its area.

Any change of use, demolition or alteration proposed to the 188 pubs within the borough will now have to go through the planning process, according to a statement from the authority.

Councillor Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration and new homes, said that the Council values the “role local pubs play for our residents”. He added: “This is why we felt it was important to make sure that the council and local community have a say when pubs are put forward for development, to help ensure that changing the use of pubs only happens in the right circumstances and in the right areas.”

Wandsworth became the first local authority to take this step when it made its Article 4 Direction under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in August last year. This was done in order to protect its 120 public houses. Geoff Strawbridge, Greater London Regional Director of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale), said at that time: "I would like to see every planning authority in the country follow Wandsworth’s exemplary initiative in protecting its pubs and bars by removing permitted development rights.” London mayor Sadiq Khan is a supporter of pubs being given this protection.