Village Shops, Post Offices, Public Houses and Hotels
10.27 These provide necessary local facilities, within both rural and urban areas, which can give the basis for social interaction and a focus for the community The loss of a shop, post office, public house or hotel, through its closure or through its change of use, can lead to problems of declining social interaction, feelings of isolation and a breakdown in the community. However, these uses are commercial enterprises and cannot operate as a loss making concern without subsidy. If an owner or operator wants to close their facility they may do so immediately without reference to either the local planning authority or the licensing magistrates (except in the case of post offices where notice must be given). Only when a developer, be it the owner or other party, wishes to change the use of the building does the planning system become involved.
10.28 In some settlements the community may wish to seek to operate a village store or public house that is under threat of closure as a co-operative or other community owned enterprise. This would ensure that the facility is secured for community use and continue to provide a useful service within the village. Community or co-operative management of a hotel may not be a feasible prospect. However, the Council would wish to consider whether there is scope for alternative management or operation of these larger facilities, which benefit the local community as well. The Council is keen to ensure that all alternative methods of management have been explored and ruled out before a grant of permission is given.
10.29 The consideration of the planning application can look at the viability of the facility as a material planning consideration, and therefore, it is essential that a suitable framework is developed for the consideration of planning applications involving the loss of these facilities. The following Policy will therefore apply:-
Policy CF 5
Development Involving the Loss of Village Shops, Post Offices, Public Houses or Hotels
Planning applications for development (including change of use), which involve the loss of a village shop, post office, public house or hotel, will be expected to demonstrate that:-- there is no need for the facility in the local area;
- that it is no longer a viable operating business;
- all reasonable efforts have been made to retain the facility by investigating the possibility of setting up a community owned and managed enterprise; and
- there is no reasonable prospect of the business becoming viable in the future.
Permission will be granted where the balance of these considerations clearly shows that the facility is surplus to requirements or uneconomic, subject to the requirements of all other relevant UDP policies.