Work is almost complete on the new entrance to the University Centre in Havelock Road, and work is progressing well on the Media Centre between Robertson Street and Cambridge Road.
The University Centre in Havelock Road and the Media Centre in Robertson Street
There are changes coming in on 21 April that affect cafés, pubs and takeaways.
There is a piece of planning legislation called the 'Use Classes Order' that groups different uses together in classes. These include A1 which covers all retail uses, and A2 which covers things like banks and building societies. Planning permission is not normally required to change between uses that fall within the same class - for example between a book shop and a greengrocers (both A1), or between a bank and an estate agent (both A2).
In the past there was one use class which covered cafés, restaurants, take-aways, and pubs. These uses vary enormously and a teashop that closes at 6pm can have a very different impact on an area to a pub serving alcohol until 11pm, but owners were able to change between these uses without seeking planning permission.
The legislation has now changed and from 21 April 2005 there are now three separate use classes:
A3 - Restaurants and cafés
A4 - Drinking establishments
A5 - Hot food takeaways
Planning permission is now required to change from a restaurant or café to a pub or bar, or to a takeaway. However, there are provisions to change from a pub or takeaway to a café or restaurant, and to a shop (class A1) from any of these uses without the need to submit an application.
If you operate a business that falls within one of these classes, or are considering buying one, and you are thinking of changing the use, you should contact us at an early stage to discuss whether a planning application will be required.
Fees for planning applications change of 1 April.
Where the old fee was £110 the new fee will increase to £135, and where the old fee was £220 it will increase to £265.
These fees are set by central government, and the increases are the first for three years.
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This page last updated: 18/03/2005