Legislation update →
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 has now made permanent the provisions set out in the Business and Planning Act 2020 that made it simpler for businesses to apply for pavement licences quickly. The changes came into effect on 31 March 2024 and the guidance has been amended to show the changes.
You will need to apply for a pavement licence if you wish to place furniture, e.g. tables and chairs, on the public highway to sell or consume food or drink.
We can only consider applications for an area that is part of the Council’s maintained highway.
Approval is not automatic and you must not place any furniture or displays on the highway until a licence has been issued.
What you need to know
Furniture will only be permitted to be placed on the highway during the times specified on the licence and must be removed at the end of each day.
The size of the area to be licensed will depend on the site characteristics, safety considerations and the criteria set by us to maintain adequate highway space for both pedestrians and vehicles.
An absolute minimum width of 1.8 metres must be left between the proposed area and the kerb, which may be increased to 3 metres in busier areas. This may be relaxed where there is a temporary road closure in place.
Who is eligible?
Businesses that are eligible include pubs, cafes, bars, restaurants, snack bars, coffee shops, and ice cream parlours.
How much is it?
With effect from 1st September 2024 the current fees are:
- New Application: £300.00
- Renewal Application: £200.00
Making an Application
What supporting documents do I need?
- A plan clearly identifying the location of the premises with a red line
- A plan clearly showing the proposed area to be covered by the licence in relation to the highway, if not to scale, with measurements clearly shown, including:
- Any other street furniture in the area, such as lamp posts or bins
- Distance from proposed area to kerb
- Width / depth of the proposed area
- Evidence that there is sufficient space around the proposed area so that all highway-related issues can be considered
- The potential siting of the furniture within the proposed area.
- Evidence of Public Liability Insurance (£5 million)
- Photographs of all the proposed furniture to be used
- Health and safety risk assessment.
All supporting documents can be uploaded when registering your interest or can be emailed to licensing@wigan.gov.uk quoting your application reference. Photographs or scans of documents are acceptable, providing the relevant information is clear.
What happens after I apply?
Once the application has been accepted, you will receive an email confirming the start of a 14 day consultation period to determine if the proposed area is suitable. We will also consult with a number of interested parties during this period. The 14 day consultation period begins the the day after the application is accepted by the authority
You will be required to display a notice at the premises for the 14 day period and provide photographic evidence that this has been displayed. The notice must be prominently displayed where it can be conveniently read from the exterior of the premises. We will provide you with the relevant notice.
Applications will be determined within 14 days of the end of the consultation period, excluding public holidays.
Pending pavement licence applications
Pending applications
| Reference number | Business name and address | Hours of operation | Proposed furniture | Comments received by |
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No Pending Applications
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