Pavement Licence

A pavement licence is a licence granted by this local authority, allowing the licence-holder to place removable furniture over certain highways adjacent to their premises 

This is a licence to place chairs/tables and other furniture on the pavement solely for the service of and consumption of food and/or drink in connection with the relevant use of the business i.e. public house, wine bar or other drinking establishment or the sale of food and or drink for consumption on or off the premises.

This is not a licence to place scaffolding or hoarding on the Highway. Apply for a scaffolding and hoarding licence.

As of 31st March 2024, The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 makes permanent the provisions originally set out in the Business and Planning Act (BPA) 2020. 

This means that businesses can now apply for a pavement licence to be in place beyond 30 September 2024. 

 Are you interested in applying? – If so:

1. view and read our eligibility criteria to ensure that you are permitted to apply
2. view and read our terms and conditions to ensure that if granted, you will be able to comply with the licence.

For all Pavement Licences, the Licensing Service may consult with:

• West Mercia Police
• Highways Authority
• Shropshire Fire & Rescue
• Environmental Health (see highlighted * note below).
• Neighbourhood Enforcement
• Night-Time Economy Team
• Local Town/Parish Council.

* Whilst not part of the application process, Environmental Health may still expect applicants to have a suitable noise management plan - download the noise management plan.

All Pavement Licence applications will be subject to a 14 day public consultation. The local authority must then determine the application within a further 14 days working days. If the local authority does not determine the application within this timescale, the application is deemed to be automatically granted. Once a licence is granted, or deemed to be granted, the applicant will also benefit from deemed planning permission to use the land for anything done pursuant to the licence while the licence is valid. The licensing authority can specify the duration of the licence, although there is an expectation that local authorities will grant licences for a period of 2 years, unless there are good reasons for granting a licence for a shorter period, such as plans for future changes in use of road space.

Please note: that any application submitted with incorrect or missing documentation will not be processed. Instead, you will be contacted by an officer and asked to re-submit the required documentation. It is also important to note that you will also be asked to remove the notice you may have displayed and re-advertise the notice when your application is deemed to be complete and when you are instructed to do so by an Officer.

All applications deemed to be served correctly will result in a site visit by an authorised officer of Telford & Wrekin Council. The officer will consider the suitability of the application and will notify the Licensing Service of any comments/representations.

If any representation is received, this will result in your application being referred to a Review Panel for final determination. Please note: that there is no appeal process against the Council's decision to refuse an application. In addition, the application fee will not be refunded.

The government has produced guidance on Pavement Licences - Download the Guidance.

Last updated: 05/04/2024 13:11