Camra claims Government planning proposals could put thousands of pubs at risk

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is currently consulting on reforms, which includes giving pubs special protections if they are the last one in a local area.

However, Camra claims that they were already protected as “community assets”, and so previously planning permission was required for all developments involving pubs being demolished or converted into houses, shops and takeaways.

The Government however has pushed back on this, saying it has granted pubs specific protections for the first time ever.

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Paul Ainsworth, Camra national planning policy advisor, said: “We strongly object to these plans which could spell the end for thousands of viable pubs across England.

“Strong planning protections are needed to give local people the right to try to save their pub if it is under threat of demolition or conversion.

“Crucially, this must apply to all pubs so that communities can save their local even if there are other pubs in the same area.

“Without protections for every pub, we risk seeing greedy developers cash in and try to turn pub buildings into other uses like houses, shops or takeaways.

“This would be devastating for communities who would lose a vital part of their social fabric.

“Camra wants Government ministers to rethink this proposal and keep strong protections for all pubs in the planning system so our locals can keep serving their communities instead of being lost forever.”

A government spokesperson said: “These claims are simply not true. We agree that pubs are vital for communities – which is why our changes to the planning framework give them protections for the first time.

“We have also set out plans to cut business rates for pubs, freeze their bills and our new Pride in Place programme is investing £5bn to give local people powers to buy assets like pubs – keeping them open for business.

“We have met with Camra to discuss these proposals and the important work they do for the industry.”

Findings from the British Beer and Pub Association (BPPA) last year had already revealed that Yorkshire was one of the hardest hit places in the UK for pub closures.

Some 258 pubs have closed since 2016 and a further 260 are at risk without "meaningful" reform.

The Government has already been forced into a U-turn on pubs over business rates, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing a rescue package after she was banned from her local.