The Use Class A3 Food and Drink is defined in the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 as "Use for the sale of food or drink for consumption on the premises or of hot food for consumption off the premises". The broad definition would include public houses, bars, hot food takeaways, cafés, restaurants and coffee houses.
In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the number of food and drink premises (A3 uses) in the city centre and in the district and local centres. While such uses meet a clearly identified need and can contribute to the vitality and viability of centres, there can be concerns about their impact on amenity. Concerns have been raised that in some parts of the city there are now too many A3 uses.
Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for new bars, pubs, restaurants, hot food takeaways, and cafés (classified as A3 uses) in Leicester city centre has now been adopted by the City Council. The guidance is intended to supplement the draft replacement local plan.
The guidance covers issues such as opening hours, and the size, numbers and concentrations of A3 uses in the city centre and the area surrounding it, that is, within the inner ring road.
These matters would be taken into account when considering planning applications, for example, for new A3 uses, extensions to existing premises in A3 use and changes to permitted opening hours.
