11 October 2021
Changes to Pavement Licences
Pub/Bar/Restaurant operators beware the change in arrangements for Pavement Licences
Pavement licenses fall into two categories. Firstly, those which were granted by the Local Authority under the Highways Act prior to 2020. These are referred to as “tables and chairs” licences. Secondly, those which the Government made provision for, in 2020, for operators to use the street for trading purposes, by way of what was referred to as “fast track payment license “. These were granted for between three and 12 months.
These arrangements ran out on 30 September 2022.
The licenses granted under the Highways Act take longer to be processed and so applications need to be carefully managed.
In either case these licenses are not permanent, and anyone who has had a “fast track pavement license “granted at some time from September 2020, will need to make an application for a new license, as from 1st October 2021.
The government has extended this provision so that such licenses can be granted, but they will have to expire before 30 September 2022. At this point in time it is not known whether these types of pavement license will be extended beyond September 2022.
Therefore, as operators you need to check the status of your license, and if it is one of the “fast track” types then ensure that you get a new application submitted very soon.
