New measures to halt the shocking number of pubs closing their doors across the capital have been set out by the Mayor Sadiq Khan in his draft London Plan.
London has lost an average of 81 of its pubs a year since 2001 – and the Mayor is vowing to protect them.
The draft London Plan – the Mayor’s overall planning strategy for the capital, to be published this week – will push local authorities to recognise the heritage, economic, social and cultural value of pubs and ensure they are protected for local communities. It will also ask boroughs to back proposals for new pubs to be built in appropriate locations, to stimulate town centre regeneration.
Sadiq will introduce the Agent of Change principle in his draft London Plan. This means that developers building new residential properties near pubs will be responsible for ensuring they are adequately soundproofed and designed to reduce sound from nearby pubs, clubs and live music venues, instead of the crippling cost falling on the pubs and clubs.
Boroughs will have to refuse proposals from developers that have not clearly demonstrated how they will manage this noise impact.
The Mayor will lay down plans urging boroughs to resist applications to redevelop areas directly connected to public houses – such as beer gardens, function rooms or landlord accommodation – so that they retain their appeal to local people and visitors and remain viable businesses.
