The Government has launched a public consultation on planning reforms that could give a boost to outdoor dining and pop-up markets.

As the COVID-19 lockdown eased, the Government introduced temporary measures that enabled pubs, restaurants and others in the hospitality sector to set up outdoor eating areas.

These permitted development rights (PDRs) helped businesses survive and supported councils in their efforts to increase footfall in town centres and on the high street.

The Government now aims to make some of these rights permanent. In particular, it is consulting on the right for markets to be held by or on behalf of local councils, and the right for moveable structures in the grounds of pubs, cafes, restaurants and historic visitor attractions.

‘The simple reforms we made during the pandemic to help hospitality businesses, markets and historic visitor attractions make use of outdoor spaces more easily, made a massive impact. They helped thousands of businesses and attraction to prosper, made out town centres livelier and have been enjoyed by millions of us,’ said secretary of state for housing Robert Jenrick.

‘As part of our vision to transform high streets into thriving places to work, visit and live, we intend to make as many of these measures permanent fixtures of British life as possible.’