Pubs and restaurants allowed to operate as takeaways

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has said that planning rules will be relaxed to allow pubs and restaurants to operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak.

Planning permission is currently required for businesses to carry out a change of use to a hot food takeaway. However, given current situations, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed that regulations will be relaxed to enable businesses to deliver this service without a planning application.

The government said the relaxations to planning rules will be put in place as soon as possible to provide reassurance to businesses and enable them to start providing takeaways to people quickly. The measures will apply to hot food and drinks. Serving of alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to existing licensing laws.

He said: “We are committed to doing everything we can to tackle the pandemic and support people, businesses and communities through this difficult time. These changes will provide vital flexibility to pubs and restaurants and will ensure people are able to safely stay at home while still supporting some of the great local businesses across this country.”