Starbucks faces eviction as 'wrong kind of shop'

Starbucks has been threatened with eviction from a London conservation area because it has "the wrong kind" of planning permission.

Harrow council has accused the coffee shop giant of gaining "back-door" authorisation for its branch in Pinner High Street.

The shop opened last year in premises formerly occupied by an independent bookseller.

Councillors say the site had planning-permission for another retailer and Starbucks needed to apply to Harrow for change-of-use permission. The stand is being seen as an example of local authorities taking back control of their town centres after years of being "rolled over" by national and international chains.

Under current planning guidelines, the status of coffee shops is unclear. This has allowed many to open unopposed in former retail premises - classified as A1 use - rather than apply for A3 restaurant use.

The chains say coffee shop are retailers rather than restaurants because customers pay for goods and take them away. But Marilyn Ashton, Harrow's portfolio holder for planning, development and enterprise, said: "We're being rendered impotent. A coffee shop is much more than buying a sandwich and then going out again.

"Harrow council does not have an issue with Starbucks or any other of the coffee shop retailers. But it does take issue with the fact that this organisation has taken advantage of the grey area created by badly thought-out government legislation on planning law.

"Starbucks thinks it can get away with not applying for a change of use. We are saying it should not get away with it. It is not unreasonable for local people to wonder why they had a bookshop and now they have what is essentially a restaurant.

"Starbucks is using the premises without planning permission and we are insisting it applies for it, so the council can properly consider the impact the loss of a retail outlet will have on Pinner High Street."

Hundreds of coffee shops, many owned by chains such as Starbucks, Caffè Nero and Coffee Republic, have sprung up across London in recent years. Critics claim they have helped drive out independent stores.

A spokeswoman for Starbucks said: "Under current planning law, there is no official classification of coffee shops. Starbucks therefore encounters the difficult scenario whereby local authorities interpret the guidance in different ways.

"In some instances, coffee shops operate under A1 permission, some as mixed use A1/A3 and some as A3.

"We are considering our options and plan to work closely with the local planning authority to agree next steps to be able to continue providing the Starbucks experience to customers in Pinner."