The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act makes the temporary pavement licensing provisions under the Business and Planning Act 2020 permanent. These provisions provide an easier, quicker and cheaper route for premises in England serving food and drink such as bars, restaurants and cafes to seat and serve customers outdoors than the previous process under the Highways Act 1980.
The Council has adopted a policy on pavement licensing which provides information for applicants and outlines the approach the Licensing Authority will take when determining applications. The policy also contains details of the published standard conditions that will be attached to pavement licences.
A business can apply for a licence to place tables and chairs, serving counters and other furniture associated with the sale or service of food and drink on the highway outside their business premises. The furniture must be removable as it is a requirement of the legislation and therefore must be removed at the end of each day so as not to cause an obstruction on the highway.
If you wish to place permanent furniture on the highway, or you are a business that is not associated with the sale or service of food or drink, please contact our Highways Team at environ2@solihull.gov.uk.
Apply for or renew a pavement licence
Licences will be granted for a maximum period of two years.
Apply for a pavement licence or renew your existing pavement licence
Supporting documents
You will need to provide the following documents/information with your application:
- A copy of your public liability insurance certificate (minimum of £5 million cover)
- A plan of the business premises, clearly shown by a red line so that it can be easily identified
- A plan or sketch of the proposed area (including dimensions of the area and showing the position of furniture and other items, within the proposed space)
- A colour photograph, brochure or website link of the proposed furniture
Providing notice of your application
On the same day that you make the application, you are required to give notice of your application by fixing a notice of the application to the premises so that it is readily visible to, and can be read easily by, members of the public who are not on the premises.
You also have to make sure the notice remains in place until the end of the public consultation period which means the period of 14 days beginning with the day after you make the application.
We have provided a template notice you can use for this purpose.
Pavement cafe licence register
All applications received will be available to view online.
Making a representation
If you wish to make a representation to a pavement licence application, you must ensure you do so before the end of the public consultation period (which runs for 14 days, starting with the day after the application is made to the Licensing Authority), otherwise your representation may not count.