The Bill received Royal Assent on 22 July 2020. It introduces measures intended to help businesses, particularly in the hard-hit hospitality and construction sectors, to get back to work safely and quickly. Only some measures are highlighted below:
Part 1: Consumption of food and drink outdoors
- Outdoor seating – temporary fast-track process for these businesses to obtain permission from the local council for a pavement licence.
Part 3: Planning
- Construction site hours – from 28 July 2020 a new temporary measure allow developers to apply to local planning authorities to vary existing conditions, or the details submitted under a condition, that limit construction site working hours. Restrictions can be amended until 1 April 2021 or earlier date when requested or decided upon by the LPA.
- Extending planning permissions including listed building consents which have lapsed or are due to lapse between 23 March and 31 December 2020 until 1 May 2021.
- Hybrid appeals allows the Planning Inspectorate to apply more than one type of procedure (inquiry, hearing and/or written representations), depending on the particular issue at hand, when dealing with certain planning appeals. section 319A(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, section 88D(2) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and section 21A(2) of the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 are relevant.
- London Plan SDS – measures allow for the Mayor of London’s current spatial development strategy to be inspected electronically.
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