- 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Framework, which will modernise outdated planning and licensing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.
This transformation is already underway through the High Street
Rental Auction Scheme, which gives councils the power to auction
off leases for commercial properties that have been vacant for
over a year—bringing empty shops back into use and turning them
into vibrant community hubs where people can enjoy a meal, drink,
or night out.
The plans come ahead of the launch of the Government's Small
Business Plan which will deliver on the Plan for
Change by setting out further steps to unlock the full
potential of the UK's 5.5 million SMEs – who collectively
contribute £2.8 trillion in turnover and provide 60% of all
private sector jobs.
Business and Trade Secretary
said:
“This Government has a plan to replace shuttered up shops
with vibrant places to socialise turning them into thriving cafés
or busy bars, which supports local jobs and gives people a place
to get together and catch up over a beer or a
coffee.
“Red tape has stood in the way of people's business ideas for
too long. Today we're slashing those barriers to giving small
business owners the freedom to flourish.
“From faster café openings to easier alfresco dining, our
Plan for Change will put the buzz back into our town centres and
money back into the pockets of local entrepreneurs, because when
small businesses thrive, communities come alive.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer said:
“Whether it's cheering on the Lionesses or catching up with
friends, our pubs and bars are at the heart of British life.
“For too long, they've been stifled by clunky, outdated
rules. We're binning them – to protect pavement pints, al fresco
dining and street parties – not just for the summer, but all year
round.
“Through our Plan for Change, we're backing small businesses
and bringing good times back to the high street.”
All these plans, subject to an initial Call for Evidence in due
course, will be delivered as soon as possible as part of the
Government's commitment to reduce the administrative costs of
regulation by at least 25%.
