Apply for a pavement licence

If you are a business such as a pub, restaurant, wine bar or café you may need permission to have chairs and tables outside your premises for use by your customers.
 

Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act makes permanent the pavement licensing regime under the Business and Planning Act 2020, with a number of changes.

The Business and Planning Act process provides a streamlined and cheaper route for businesses such as cafes, restaurants, and bars to secure a licence to place furniture on the highway. This will provide much needed income for businesses and protect as many hospitality jobs as possible, particularly during times of increasing living costs.
 

Restrictions

Your licence will have standard and national conditions applied by default, which may result in restrictions such as the number of furniture items and the size of the area permitted.

If we believe your application results in insufficient access for all highway users including disabled people, you may not have a licence granted.
 

Before you start

Before you apply, you need to read our:

• standard conditions
   

Fees

The fee for a 2 year pavement licence is £287.
 

How to apply

To apply for a licence, you need to:

① Complete an application form

  Application form for the grant of a pavement licence (PDF) [470KB]

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② Send the form to us

Email the completed form and supporting documents to licensing@uttlesford.gov.uk

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③ Pay for your application

Make a payment of £287 (non-refundable).

Find how to pay

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④ Display a public notice

On the day you apply, you must display a public notice in a prominent position next to the highway.

Download a public notice template (PDF) [99KB]
 

Supporting documents to accompany your application

As part of your application, you will also need to provide:

• a scale plan, clearly showing the exact area the tables and chairs will be and the dimensions of all furniture
• a copy of your public liability insurance
• other supporting documents, such as photos of the furniture you are buying
• a clear and legible photo showing the public notice on display in a conspicuous position

You will need to email these to licensing@uttlesford.gov.uk

We consider each application on individual merit. We will not process an application until you have given us all the information we need.

This also applies to variations and renewals.
 

After you have applied

Once we receive your application, we will:

• acknowledge it within one working day
• advertise your application on our website
• allow people to make comments about or object to the application
• send letters to neighbouring shops and properties
• allow people to make representations or objections to the application

We will also send consultation letters and ask for comments from:

• Essex County Council Highways
• our planning team
• our environmental team
• any other relevant people

If we do not receive any comments or objections, we will grant the licence, subject to our standard conditions. If we do receive any comments or objections, we will consider them and may add further conditions or consider refusing your application.
 

Granting your application

If we grant your licence, we will routinely monitor your premises, to make sure that you are complying with the conditions of the licence.

If we do not make a decision on your application with the 28 day period, your licence will be 'deemed granted'. It will still be subject to the standard conditions. If  'deemed granted', your licence will be valid for 2 years, starting from the first day after the 28 day application period.