BBPA calls for safeguards on how Community Right to Buy applies to pubs

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has urged peers to back amendments to the Localism Bill in relation to the proposed Community Right to Buy.

The BBPA warned that, in their current form, the plans could harm the sale of viable pubs. It said it supported the Community Right to Buy “if the circumstances are right”, but wanted new safeguards in the Bill.

The Association said it was supporting changes – tabled by Lord Hodgson – that would ensure that the Community Right to Buy mechanism would only be triggered in four specific circumstances: “when a pub is put up for sale and is at risk of closure, is already closed, is subject to an application for change of use, or is subject to a demolition order”.

BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds said: “Many peers clearly share concerns that pub businesses have with the current plans. We very much support local communities running local pubs, but more pubs will close if their asset value is reduced and viability is put at risk by uncertainty. There is now a great opportunity to put things right – in a way that retains the benefits of the original right to buy plans.”