11 April 2024The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has recently issued new guidance about temporary outdoor seating arrangements, to accompany pavement licensing introduced in the Business and Planning Act 2020.
The Business and Planning Act process provides a streamlined and cheaper route for businesses such as cafes, restaurants, and bars to secure a licence to place furniture on the highway. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act makes permanent the pavement licensing regime under the Business and Planning Act 2020, with several changes, including the introduction of a standard fee cap for both new and renewals of licences; increased consultation and determination periods; lengthening of the maximum duration of licences; and new powers for local authorities to remove unlicenced furniture.
