Alfresco and takeaway planning exemptions extended for a year

Restaurants, pubs and cafés will get automatic freedoms to provide takeaway services for another year.

Housing minister Robert Jenrick has written to council leaders urging them to waive planning rules unless in exceptional circumstances and "to do everything possible to help these [hospitality] businesses reopen safely and prosper again".

He has extended provisions until September 2022, meaning hospitality businesses can offer takeaways and deliveries, put up marquees in pub gardens, hold markets and fairs, and set up outdoor dining without planning permissions.

This includes extending pavement licences for a further 12 months. In the letter, he said: local authorities are expected to grant pavement licences for 12 months or more "unless there are good reasons not to", such as plans for future changes in use of road space.

Jenrick relaxed the rules in March 2020 for businesses to offer takeaways during the pandemic without having to go through a planning application process. This was due to end on 23 March 2021 but was extended last year and will now last even longer.