Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Hospitality Venues and High Streets

Monday 19 April 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Planning easements have been introduced to enable al fresco dining and outdoor events without costly planning permissions.
  • The 28-day rule for setting up marquee or temporary structures without planning permission has been extended to at least the whole of summer.
  • Fundamental changes in planning regulations aim to facilitate the conversion of unused spaces into homes to help repurpose vacant buildings.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Matt Vickers Con Stockton West
Economy Housing Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the recovery of high streets affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question

What steps he is taking to help high streets recover from the covid-19 outbreak. The government has introduced planning easements, including fast-track pavement licences and permissions for outdoor events. However, there are concerns about vacant buildings becoming a blight on town centres.

Answer from Robert Jenrick

Last week saw friends and families reunited as shops, pubs, cafés reopened. Planning easements like fast-track pavement licences have been introduced to enable al fresco dining without costly planning permissions. These measures include enabling communities to hold outdoor events such as markets and allowing pubs to set up marquees in their gardens for the summer.

Answered
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Q2 Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North
Business & Trade
Context

In Romsey, the planning easements have been used extensively by pubs, cafés, and restaurants to set up temporary structures. There is concern about the duration of these easements.

Question

Please can my right hon. Friend reassure me that plenty of time will be given to pubs and so on before these structures have to be removed? In many cases, they will continue to provide additional capacity even when indoor socialising is allowed, and our hospitality sector has had a very tough year.

Answer from Robert Jenrick

The 28-day rule enabling businesses to set up marquee or temporary structure without seeking planning permission has been doubled. Legislation is being brought forward to ensure these easements remain in place for at least the whole of summer, potentially longer. This enables small businesses like pubs and cafés in Romsey and across the country to benefit fully.

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Q3 Matt Vickers Con Stockton West
Housing Local Government
Context

Many town centres face issues with vacant buildings becoming a blight. There is a need to repurpose or demolish these structures.

Question

Our town centres lie at the heart of our communities, but vacant buildings have become a blight in many of them. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that he is taking steps to make it easier for vacant buildings to be repurposed or demolished?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

Fundamental changes are needed in planning regulations to enable businesses to adapt and evolve, converting unused spaces into homes without costly permissions. The Department has brought forward planning changes to address this issue, aiming for hundreds to thousands of new homes created on high streets and town centres.

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Q4 Naseem Shah Lab Bradford West
Economy Business & Trade Local Government
Context

The government is proposing changes to permitted development rights, allowing conversions of various commercial spaces into homes without planning permission.

Question

Has the Department conducted an impact assessment of how many cafés, pharmacies and corner shops will be lost from our high streets due to proposed planning changes?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

Consultations have been conducted and thousands of responses received. Measures include protections for nurseries and conservation areas, but the government's approach is considered proportionate to address major transformation in high streets post-COVID. Billions of pounds are being invested through towns and high streets funds.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific impact assessment on loss of businesses like cafés and pharmacies was not addressed.

How: Approached With Great Caution, Due Consideration

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