This was the government press release from Saturday (26 July).
“Government to overhaul planning and licensing rules to make it quicker and easier for new cafes, bars and music venues to open in place of disused shops.
New ‘hospitality zones’ will fast-track permissions for alfresco dining, pubs, bars and street parties.
Reforms will also protect long-standing venues from noise complaints by new developments.”
“The reforms will make it easier to convert disused shops into hospitality venues, and protect long-standing pubs, clubs, and music venues from noise complaints by new developments – ensuring the buzz of the high street can thrive without being silenced.
As part of this, the Government will introduce the ‘Agent of Change’ principle into national planning and licensing policy – meaning developers will be responsible for soundproofing their buildings if they choose to build near existing pubs, clubs or music venues.
New dedicated ‘hospitality zones’, will also be introduced where permissions for alfresco dining, street parties and extended opening hours will be fast-tracked – helping to bring vibrancy and footfall back to the high street.
The new National Licensing Policy Framework will streamline and standardise the process for securing planning permission and licences, removing the patchwork of local rules that currently delay or deter small businesses from opening. This means that entrepreneurs looking to turn empty shops into cafes, bars or music venues will face fewer forms, faster decisions, and lower costs.
This transformation is already underway through the High Street Rental Auction Scheme, which gives councils the power to auction off leases for commercial properties that have been vacant for over a year—bringing empty shops back into use and turning them into vibrant community hubs where people can enjoy a meal, drink, or night out.”
We wait to see what all this means in practice for our planning and licensing systems. The agent of change is after all already in the NPPF. Paragraph 200:
“Planning policies and decisions should ensure that new development can be integrated effectively with existing businesses and community facilities (such as places of worship, pubs, music venues and sports clubs). Existing businesses and facilities should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result of development permitted after they were established. Where the operation of an existing business or community facility could have a significant adverse effect on new development (including changes of use) in its vicinity, the applicant (or ‘agent of change’) should be required to provide suitable mitigation before the development has been completed.”
Perhaps there will be a super-charged National Development Management Policy version? Anecdotally, I am still being approached by music venues finding that permissions have been granted for adjoining development without adequate noise mitigation conditions having been applied (most recently a London borough being prepared to consent to judgment in just such a situation). And is the government right to be removing the Theatres Trust as a statutory consultee on relevant planning applications, which is an important check against these sorts of problems arising in relation to some types of venue at least?
For more see my 11 May 2024 blog post Grassroots Music Venues Report/Agent Of Change which in turn references earlier posts.
Now shush, I need to work.
Simon Ricketts, 28 July 2025
Personal views, et cetera
SIMONICITY 