Temporary pavement licence
Temporary pavement licences were introduced in 2020 as part of the Business and Planning Act, which brought in a number of measures to help businesses during the Covid recovery period.
This licence is a streamlined process of 14 working days making it quicker for businesses to apply for a pavement licence. They are valid until September 2024, then applicants will need to apply for a pavement cafe licences to continue operating their business on the pavement thereafter.
What is a Pavement Licence?
The 2020 Act makes provisions to make it easier for businesses that sell food and drink for consumption on or off the premises to seat and serve customers outdoors through temporary changes to regulatory procedures by way of a new licence known as a 'pavement licence'.
A pavement licence authorises the operator of a business selling food and drink to place removable furniture such as tables and chairs on part of the highway adjacent to their premises to sell food and drink from and/or for its customers to use.
Who needs to apply?
In order to apply for a pavement licence, you must use, or propose to use, your premises for, or including:
- use as a public house, wine bar or other drinking establishment
and/or
- use for the sale of food or drink for consumption on or off the premises. The premises will need to be next to a highway
How much is it?
There is a £100 application fee.
How to apply
To apply for a pavement licence complete the following form and email it to engineers@preston.gov.uk:
Apply for a Pavement Licence (PDF) [142KB]
Please note: before completing the form, please read through the pavement licences local and national conditions that may apply to any licence that is issued to make sure you are able to meet these conditions.
What do I need to include?
Please make sure you have included the following before submitting your application:
1. location plan - showing the position of the premises in relation to other buildings with the main roads named.
2. layout plan - showing the position of the proposed area to be licensed and its relationship to existing buildings and features.
3. Details of the items (eg furniture) - to be used within and bounding the proposed area to be licensed.
4. Statement of how and who will be establishing and removing the arrangement on the highway.
5. Copy of your Public Liability insurance in the sum of £5 Million. Please ensure that the submitted document includes the dates of cover and the premises to which the insurance refers.
Please note: if you do not have electronic copies of documents, you can submit photos of the document(s) using your smart phone or other digital device. Please make sure this information is clear and easy to read.
Making payment
Once you have completed the form, the £100 application fee can be made by debit or credit card by calling us on 01772 906792. A receipt will be issued.
What happens next?
On the same day that you submit the application to us, you must place a Pavement licence - notice of application (PDF) [50KB] (opens new window) on the premises to which it relates.
The notice of application must:
- be readily visible to, and read easily by, members of the public who are not on the premises
- remain in place until the end of the public consultation period
- state that the application has been made and the date on which it was made to the Council
- provide a statement advising that representations to the application may be made to the Council during the public consultation period, and state when that period comes to an end
We may only determine an application where it is made in accordance with section 2 of the 2020 Act, securing that the notice remains in place during the public consultation period is important.
If a notice is pulled down it should be replaced as soon as possible. You may wish to record and retain evidence that you have met this requirement by keeping a regular log, supported by photographs that the notice has remained in place. You may be asked to provide these records on request.
Recently submitted applications
Applications that are currently being consulted upon can be viewed by following the link below:
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