Decision details

Purpose of Report: To report a request that the Council make a Direction under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to remove permitted development rights for the change of use of The Punch Bowl public house, Lowther Street, York from its existing use as a public house (Class A4) to a shop (Class A1).

Members are asked to consider the request and decide whether or not to make an Article 4 Direction as requested.

Resolved:   (i)     That, as a matter of urgency, the Director of City and Environmental Services and the Director of Customer and Business Support Services be requested to further investigate options in relation to the request for action to preserve the Punch Bowl public house, Lowther Street, York as a public house;

(ii)    That the Cabinet Members for Environmental Services, Planning and Sustainability and Finance and Performance, each be asked to consider the options identified by the Directors under (i) above and, if satisfied that action is justified, to take such action under his delegated powers.

(iii)   To confirm the delegation of powers to the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Planning and Sustainability to make an Article 4 direction to remove permitted development rights for the change of use of The Punch Bowl public house, Lowther Street, York from its existing use as a public house (Class A4) to a shop (Class A1) if satisfied that sufficient evidence exists to justify the making of such a Direction.

(iv)    That Officers be requested to bring a report back to a future Cabinet meeting outlining a long term strategy to assist with similar future requests.

Reason:        In order to allow further work to evidence if exceptional circumstances exist to show that a change of use would harm the amenity or the proper planning of the area, and whether there is a need to remove permitted development rights for the change of use of The Punch Bowl public house, Lowther Street, York from its existing use as a public house (Class A4) to a shop (Class A1) by the making of an Article 4 Direction.