Guess what? The Government has failed to deliver a seamless pavement license transition. Who would have thought it…
I suppose Tory ministers have been a bit under the pump in recent weeks, what with the complete disintegration of their government and all, and it comes as no surprise they have not delivered the seamless extension of pavement licenses granted during lockdown that has been promised as an attempt to help hospitality recover from the pandemic.
The new Levelling Up and Regeneration bill announced in May was supposed to make Covid-era pavement license rules permanent, however that bill now looks unlikely to become law before the current system expires – presumably Boris’ sacking of the serpentine Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove hasn’t helped.
As a result, the Government intends to bring the Business and Planning Act 2020 (Pavement Licenses) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 into force, which amend the Business and Planning Act 2020 so that its temporary pavement license system will be extended until 30th September 2023. Renewals will not be automatic, which means operators using a pavement license which expires on September 30th this year will need to apply to have in extended.
Readers suffering from acute insomnia can read the legislation in full, whilst self-medicating here.