Communities and town centres across the UK are set to benefit from a wave of new cafes, bars, music venues and outdoor dining options, as the Government slashes red tape to breathe new life into the high street.
- Government to overhaul planning and licensing rules to make it quicker and easier for new cafes, bars and music venues to open in place of disused shops.
- New ‘hospitality zones’ will fast-track permissions for alfresco dining, pubs, bars and street parties.
- Reforms will also protect long-standing venues from noise complaints by new developments.
- Part of the Small Business Plan, which will show how the Plan for Change will rejuvenate smaller businesses and put more money in people’s pockets.
Communities and town centres across the UK are set to benefit from a wave of new cafes, bars, music venues and outdoor dining options, as the Government slashes red tape to breathe new life into the high street.
The government will introduce a new National Licensing Policy Framework, which will modernise outdated planning and licensing rules—cutting the cost, complexity, and time it takes to open and operate hospitality venues, and helping small businesses grow and communities reconnect.
The reforms will make it easier to convert disused shops into hospitality venues, and protect long-standing pubs, clubs, and music venues from noise complaints by new developments – ensuring the buzz of the high street can thrive without being silenced.
As part of this, the Government will introduce the ‘Agent of Change’ principle into national planning and licensing policy – meaning developers will be responsible for soundproofing their buildings if they choose to build near existing pubs, clubs or music venues.
New dedicated ‘hospitality zones’, will also be introduced where permissions for alfresco dining, street parties and extended opening hours will be fast-tracked – helping to bring vibrancy and footfall back to the high street.
The new National Licensing Policy Framework will streamline and standardise the process for securing planning permission and licences, removing the patchwork of local rules that currently delay or deter small businesses from opening. This means that entrepreneurs looking to turn empty shops into cafes, bars or music venues will face fewer forms, faster decisions, and lower costs.
To find out more Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars – GOV.UK
