The Government has today introduced its new Planning and Business Bill

The Government has today introduced its new Planning and Business Bill as part of its plan to help support high street businesses. The bill, which only applies to England, will relax licencing laws and enable businesses to provide more outdoor seating and services.

At the same time, the Government is introducing changes which will remove the need for planning applications for outdoor markets and marquees, allowing them to be set up for longer, and provide more freedoms for holding events such as car-boot sales and summer fairs.

This is a good sign for the return of outdoor events.

The Government is aiming to push the bill through Parliament in the next week so that is has passed ahead of the reopening of the hospitality sector on the 4^th July.

To help pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes operate successfully whilst maintaining social distancing, the proposed legislation will:

• Reduce the consultation period for applications for pavement licences from 28 calendar days to 5 working days, and grant consent after 10 working days if the council does not issue a decision
• Enable the use of car parks and terraces as dining and drinking areas
• Through temporary changes to licensing laws, allow more licensed premises to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises

The full text of the legislation can be found here. But please don’t print it …..It will cost a rain forest.

Association of Festival Organisers (AFO): 25th Jun 2020 12:48:00