Cafes and pubs in Devon are being offered the chance to extend their outdoor space to cope with post-lockdown trade.
South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils are fast tracking temporary extensions to outdoor spaces so hospitality businesses can re-open safely and help customers maintain social distancing.
And it will take just 15 days to get the right permission rather than the usual eight-week wait.
Councillor Judy Pearce, South Hams District Council’s Leader, said : “By encouraging licences for street cafes across the District, we hope that it will support local businesses to gain a quicker recovery to support the local economy.
“The application process will be quick and easy and we encourage cafes and pubs to apply for a licence to use our land.
“Providing the proposed use is safe and keeps to Government guidance, then a temporary licence application will be considered and issued as quickly as possible.”
Some premises may need a change to their existing premise licence and they will be able to make an application for a temporary outside seating area by applying for a minor variation to their licence.
Businesses who would like to apply for outdoor seating on pavements or roads, will need to apply directly to Devon County Council for a street café licence.
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Those who are wishing to use South Hams District or West Devon Borough Councils’ land need to apply direct to their local council. More information on what land could be available will be on each council’s website by Friday, June 19.
Businesses serving alcohol will need a premises licence or may need to amend their existing one to include the new seating area.
Guidance will be provided about being a good neighbour to ensure any new licences are welcomed and noise and litter are taken into consideration.
West Devon Borough Council’s Leader, Cllr Neil Jory, said: “We recognise the pressures which businesses have been under during the pandemic and we’d like to support them as much as possible to help them get back on their feet by allowing extra capacity for customers.
“We can help businesses by advising how they can safely increase their business area to include more visitors while keeping to the social distancing guidelines.
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If you are an existing business considering expanding to outdoor seating to serve food and drink, please click if in South Hams or if in West Devon.
To apply for a licence to use council land for a café or pub, click for South Hams and for West Devon.
If you wish to use footpaths or the road for outside seating, please go to Devon County Council’s website to apply for a street café licence by clicking .