Background

The Business and Planning Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 22nd July 2020 and has now come into force.

The legislation has been passed to promote economic recovery and growth in response to the economic impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic. The Act includes urgent provisions designed to make it easier for premises in England serving food and drink such as bars, restaurants and pubs to seat and serve customers outdoors through temporary changes to planning procedures and alcohol licensing.

The Act creates a temporary regime for the issuing of “pavement licences” by appropriate local authorities. The six district Councils in Worcestershire are each the appropriate local authority for issuing pavement licences in their administrative areas.

This new process introduces a streamlined and cheaper route for businesses such as cafes, restaurants and bars to secure a licence to place furniture on the highway. The aim of the legislation is to support businesses to operate safely while social distancing measures remain in place. The aim is to provide much needed income over the summer months and protect as many hospitality jobs as possible.

The Secretary of State has issued guidance on the pavement licensing provisions in accordance with section 8(1) of the Act.

How to apply

Worcestershire Regulatory Services is administering the temporary pavement licensing regime on behalf of the six district Council's in Worcestershire which are Bromsgrove District Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Worcester City Council, Wychavon District Council and Wyre Forest District Council.

All of the district Councils in Worcestershire are now able to accept applications for pavement licences.

Each of the district Councils has adopted a similar policy statement on pavement licences. The policy statements contains details of the Councils' published standard conditions for pavement licences. The policy statements can be seen below:

Bromsgrove District Council Policy Statement on Pavement Licences

Malvern Hills District Council Policy Statement on Pavement Licences

Redditch Borough Council Policy Statement on Pavement Licences

Worcester City Council Policy Statement on Pavement Licences

Wychavon District Council Policy Statement on Pavement Licences

Wyre Forest District Council Policy Statement on Pavement Licences

To apply for a licence, you will need to complete the application form below:

Application form

Once completed the form must be emailed to enquiries@worcsregservices.gov.uk along with the following supporting documents:

• A plan showing the location of the premises shown by a red line, so the application site can be clearly identified
• A plan clearly showing the proposed area covered by the licence in relation to the highway, if not to scale, with measurements clearly shown. The plan must show the positions and number of the proposed tables and chairs, together with any other items of furniture that they wish to place on the highway. The plan shall include clear measurements of, for example, pathway width/length, building width and any other fixed item in the proposed area.
• A copy of a current certificate of insurance that covers the activity for third party and public liability risks, to a minimum value of £5 million,
• Photos or brochures showing the proposed type of furniture (including the means of enclosure such as barriers) and information on potential siting of it within the area applied.
• Evidence of consent from neighbouring frontage(s) to use footway space outside their property (if applicable).

You must also email proof that you have paid the required application fee of £100.

Instructions on how to make online payments to the Council in whose area you are applying for a pavement licence can be found below:

How to pay Bromsgrove District Council for a pavement licence application

How to pay Malvern Hills District Council for a pavement licence application

How to pay Redditch Borough Council for a pavement licence application

How to pay Worcester City Council for a pavement licence application

How to pay Wychavon District Council for a pavement licence application

How to pay Wyre Forest District Council for a pavement licence application

Please note that your application will not be considered complete until the application form, supporting documents and proof of payment have all been received. We urge you to send all documents attached to a single email if at all possible, so that we can deal with your application as efficiently as possible.

On the same day that you make the application, you are required to give notice of your application by fixing a notice of the application to the premises so that it is readily visible to, and can be read easily by, members of the public who are not on the premises. You also have to make sure the notice remains in place until the end of the public consultation period which means the period of 7 days beginning with the day after you make the application.

A template notice you can use for this purpose can be downloaded here:

Public notice template

Applications that are currently subject to public consultation

Click on the relevant page below to view pavement licence applications that are currently subject to public consultation across the six district Councils in Worcestershire.