In the latest of a series of steps the Government is taking to support businesses through the coronavirus pandemic, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés will be able to operate as hot food takeaways.
The Communities Secretary has confirmed that planning rules will be relaxed as soon as possible to enable businesses to start immediate planning. Under current rules, a planning application is required for pubs, bars, restaurants and café businesses to offer or change use to a hot food takeaway. The Government will relax this requirement by introducing a time limited permitted development right allowing a temporary change of use of a pub (A4 - drinking establishments) and a restaurant (A3 - restaurants and cafés) to a takeaway (A5 - hot food takeaways).
The permitted change will apply for a limited period of 12 months with a requirement for businesses to inform the local planning authority when its new use begins and ends. The measures will apply to hot food and drinks. Serving of alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to existing licensing laws.
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