Restaurants, pubs and cafes will get automatic freedoms to provide takeaways services until the end of 2021, it was announced this week.
In March Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, had relaxed rules to allow businesses to offer takeaway services during the pandemic.
These relaxations meant that the likes of pubs, restaurants and cafes could offer the goods to take away, without going through a planning application process.
This was due to end on 23rd March 2021, but will now be extended by at least another year. The Government is currently considering whether or not to make these reforms permanent.
These measures were originally put in place as extra support by the Government to help businesses protect jobs, alongside the ongoing furlough scheme.
In a press release on the Government website, Jenrick had this to say:
“We’ve taken decisive action since the beginning of the pandemic to support our pubs, restaurants, cafes and markets. Making it easier for them to provide takeaways has helped these businesses to adapt and helped sustain many through an unbelievably difficult year.
That’s why I am extending these simple but effective reforms to support these businesses – helping give them and their employees more certainty over the coming year. It will also be a boost for their customers who can now look forward to continuing to enjoy meals at home from their favourite restaurants. As these reforms have made such a difference, I will be considering making them permanent.”
This will come as good news to several small business owners. For many, being able to offer takeaways has provided access to a previously untapped revenue stream.
Whilst no planning application is necessary, businesses must still tell their local planning authority when the new use begins and ends. The takeaway measure applies to food only, serving alcoholic drinks is still subject to licensing laws.
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