Labour is set to overhaul the planning and licensing system to speed up and simplify planning processes for small businesses.
The move will make it easier and quicker to open new hospitality venues through a new National Licensing Policy Framework.
Existing venues will also be protected from noise complaints lodged by new developers.
New regulations will make developers responsible for soundproofing new buildings if they are located near existing pubs, clubs or music venues.
The new policy framework will also remove restrictions in various local authorities that delay or deter small businesses from opening, streamlining the process.
Local councils have already been given more powers to auction off commercial leases on properties that have been vacant for more than a year, making it cheaper for new owners to take over and revive the venue.
The reforms focus on embedding transparency, consistency and proportionality into the licensing system, simplifying the process that has been made more complicated by policies being introduced on top of each other that make applications more difficult and slower for applicants.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Red tape has stood in the way of people’s business ideas for too long. Today we’re slashing those barriers to giving small business owners the freedom to flourish.
“From faster café openings to easier alfresco dining, [the reforms] will put the buzz back into our town centres and money back into the pockets of local entrepreneurs, because when small businesses thrive, communities come alive.”
Part of the plans involve the creation of “hospitality zones”, which will be selected areas where it will be easier to open and operate late-night venues, set up outdoor seating for cafes and restaurants, and allow for street parties to be organised safely.
Hospitality zones will be selected by local mayors and councils in collaboration with businesses, and the local community.
The Conservatives have hit out against the reforms, accusing Labour of “pure hypocrisy” after the party set out a number of changes to business rates, the minimum wage and national insurance contributions.
Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Business Secretary, said: “Though any cutting of red tape for hospitality businesses is welcome, this is pure hypocrisy and inconsistency from Labour.
“This socialist government is crippling the hospitality industry by doubling business rates, imposing a Jobs Tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape.
“As the result, shorter opening hours, shedding jobs and expensive pints are becoming the norm.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Whether it’s cheering on the Lionesses or catching up with friends, our pubs and bars are at the heart of British life.
“For too long, they’ve been stifled by clunky, outdated rules. We’re binning them – to protect pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties – not just for the summer, but all year round.
Planning reforms have been trialled in London where mayor Sadiq Khan was granted powers to review blocked licensing applications and reopen their cases for review if applications were deemed to have been blocked unfairly.
Pub licensing hours were also recently altered to celebrate VE day, branded as “Victory Inn Europe“, pubs across the country that are usually restricted to an 11pm license were able to extend their opening hours to 1am.
This feature is part of existing legislation that allows licensed hours to be relaxed to commemorate special occasions, previously it has been used to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
Featured image via Paolo Paradiso / Shutterstock.
