news : night-time uses supported in new government economic development guidance

Oxfordshire-based town planning and development consultants, JWPC Ltd, advise that Planning Policy Statement 4 ‘Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth’ (PPS4) has just been issued by Central Government.  It replaces three existing national planning policy statements, including PPS6 (Planning for Town Centres) and large parts of PPS7 (Planning for Rural Areas) and therefore has wide ranging implications for all aspects of business, including the licensed trade.  For the purposes of PPS4, ‘economic development’ covers all business, industry and distribution uses together with public and community uses and ‘main town centre uses’ (which include restaurants, public houses and nightclubs).

One of the key points to note is the support offered to the evening and night-time economy in town centres; with the Government encouraging a diverse range of complementary evening and night-time uses which appeal to a wide selection of age and social groups.  Those uses cited include restaurants, public houses, bars, nightclubs and cafés.  PPS4 requires planning authorities to manage the evening and night-time economy in town centres by taking account of and complementing the local authority’s own Statement of Licensing Policy, together with the licensing objectives of the 2003 Licensing Act.  PPS4 also makes a clear statement that the planning authority’s assessment of the impacts of proposals should be proportionate to the scale, nature and details of the proposed use.  In terms of licensed premises, this clear statement of support should be helpful in resisting a blanket ‘no’ approach adopted by some Councils.