Licensing and premises plans for alcohol sales | Community Shop | Cambridgeshire
Dan Page Architectural Services was instructed to prepare architectural site and building drawings for Wilburton Community Shop, a community-run retail store located to the rear of The Wilburton Flame, 45 High Street, Wilburton, Ely.
Wilburton Community Hub Ltd. is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society, with surplus funds reinvested into hub projects such as the Community Shop or donated to local causes. The shop was established to bring an important everyday service back into the village, supported by grant funding from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Plunkett UK, East Cambridgeshire District Council, and local community donations.
As part of the licensing process, we were asked to complete accurate site and building plans to support an application to East Cambridgeshire District Council relating to the sale of alcohol from the premises. The public licensing notice for the Wilburton Flame Bar & Restaurant and Wilburton Community Hub Retail Store confirmed that the variation included the Community Retail Store, proposed alcohol sales and opening hours, and updates to the premises plan and operating schedule conditions.
Our work included preparing clear plans showing the building layout, site arrangement, access and egress routes, relevant fire safety information, and the proposed alcohol sales/display positions within the shop. For premises licence applications, plans are expected to identify key information such as the premises boundary, internal and external walls, access points, escape routes, fixed structures, fire safety equipment, kitchens, and any areas used for different licensable activities.
The drawings were produced to help the applicant present the premises clearly to the licensing authority and responsible authorities. This is particularly important where a retail premises is applying to sell alcohol, as the licensing process considers the layout of the premises alongside the four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.
Fire safety was a key consideration. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were consulted, under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, before the licence was issued and assessed the premises type, the nature of the application, and the fire precautions detailed in the application.
This project demonstrates how clear, practical architectural drawings can support more than planning and building regulation submissions. Accurate premises plans are also essential for licensing, lease arrangements, fire safety reviews, and operational changes to commercial and community buildings.
Wilburton Community Hub and community shop is open to the public, information can be found here – https://www.wilburtonhub.org/