Restaurants and pubs in Hemel could operate as takeaways as part of coronavirus response

Planning rules will be relaxed so pubs and restaurants can operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak, the Communities Secretary has confirmed.

Planning permission is normally required to carry out a change of use to a hot food takeaway, but the government has confirmed regulations will be relaxed to enable businesses to deliver this service without a planning application.

The measures are the latest in a series of practical steps the government is taking to support businesses and help people who need to self-isolate, as well as vulnerable groups and older people who have been strongly advised to avoid social contact outside their homes to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP 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.”

The Government has confirmed 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.

Businesses will be required to tell the local planning authority when the new use begins and ends, the measures will apply to hot food and drinks.

The Government will introduce a time limited permitted development right through secondary legislation, to allow the temporary change of use of a pub and a restaurant to a hot-food take away for a period of up to 12 months.