The Government have moved to try and reduce the impact through several measures. One of the new measures now announced will be that planning laws are to be relaxed to allow pubs and restaurants to operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak.
Ordinarily planning permission is required to use a property in a certain manner (i.e. as a takeaway); operators cannot freely use the property as they wish. These new measures will allow operators to offer hot takeaway food to their customers. This is likely to be for a limited period of 12 months. The serving of alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to existing licensing laws.
What do operators need to do?
It is important to note that operators will be required to notify the local planning authority when the new use begins and ends.
