Stories

Sun, 16 Aug 2026

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 Changing pubs into homes to be made harder under new rules

The rules will come into force on Monday along with other changes to planning policy.

* New National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) comes into force on Monday and includes protections for pubs at risk of closure
* Developers will need to provide evidence that a pub business can't be kept running, including proof the pub was marketed for sale for at least 12 months
* Local councils must assess the impact on a community of a change of use
* Campaigners welcome the changes but say taxes and employment costs are the main reasons why pubs are closing
* The Labour government is criticized by the Conservatives for failing to meet its housing targets, with only 392,000 homes built in England since July 2024
* The updated NPPF also includes default approval for homes being built around railway stations in England to increase housebuilding numbers