By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs

To revive the high street, the government is planning to introduce a raft of changes to reduce red tape for hospitality businesses.

Pubs, cafés, restaurants, bars and music venues may no longer be subject to ‘outdated’ planning and licensing rules.

The headline proposed changes include:

Developers who want to build new properties near existing venues would be told to soundproof buildings

Make it easier to open bars in disused shops

Dedicated hospitality zones where requests for al fresco dining and extended hours will be processed more quickly

‘Agent of Change’ principle – reduce new developments’ ability to make noise complaints and have licences taken away from pre-existing venues

The high street ‘transformation’ is already underway through the High Street Rental Auction scheme. With these auctions, local authorities can force landlords to rent out properties that have been vacant for over a year to those such as small businesses and community groups. They, in effect, get a ‘right to rent’ empty commercial lots at market prices.

Use Class E is also still in operation, where high street businesses can change use class without planning permission and thus provide more flexibility as to

Read more...