Pavement licensing

A pavement licence is a temporary licence.  It has been brought into effect for food and drink businesses such as: 

• cafes
• restaurants
• bars 

This is so they can place removable furniture on certain highways, next to their premises.

It will support businesses post pandemic in their economic recovery.

Licences can be issued for a minimum of 3 months. They will not be valid after 30 September 2024 and are subject to mandatory, national and local conditions

Further information is available in the Government guidance.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by email to licensing@cornwall.gov.uk

Pavement Licence Application form

Businesses are also required to display a notice of the application at the premises when applications are submitted: 

Pavement Licence site notice template

Any queries should be emailed to licensing@cornwall.gov.uk.

Pavement Licence Applications

Representations 

Any representations should be emailed to licensing@cornwall.gov.uk. This needs to be before the representations deadline date shown.

Please note these temporary measures are brought in under the Business and Planning Act 2020. They are intended to support businesses and the economy to recover from the severe disruption caused by Covid-19.

This includes helping businesses adjust to new ways of working. It also assists in the challenging process of getting the economy moving again.

The new fast track temporary Pavement Licence procedure is a streamlined process. It is designed to support the hospitality industry to recover lost capacity by permitting additional use of the highway. The intention behind the legislation is to assist businesses in the most challenging operating environment in living memory.

The Local Authority intends to issue Pavement Licences to comply with the Act. This is unless there are good reasons not to. For example: 

• evidence or concerns relating to obstruction
• insufficient room for disabled access
• safety
• crime
• disorder or nuisance

These key areas are covered in the Pavement Licence mandatory, national and local conditions. Representations should not include anything already included in the conditions. Representations can include suggested additional conditions. This is dependent on the individual premises, if reasonable and proportionate.