Pavement licences
The Business and Planning Act 2020 introduced a fast-track process for businesses to obtain a pavement licence for the placement of furniture such as tables and chairs on the highway (including footpaths and pavements) adjacent to their premises for the purpose of purpose of selling or consuming food and drink.
Guidance and conditions
We have created an applicant guidance document. It is important that you read this document before you apply for a licence as it contains important information on eligibility, types of furniture permitted, the application process and what we will take into account when considering applications.
In accordance with section 5 of the Business and Planning Act 2020 the Council has published a list of standard conditions that will be attached to all pavement licences, both granted and ‘deemed granted’ (see below). The standard conditions can be found within the above guidance document. Failure to comply with the conditions could lead to revocation of the licence, so it is important that you read this document before you apply and understand the requirements that you will need to comply with as a licence holder.
How to make an application
To apply for the grant or renewal of a licence, you need to complete this application form and submit it with any supporting documents through our online application portal with the appropriate fee (£500 grant, £350 renewal).
Alternatively, you can email the completed application and supporting documents to licensing@southoxon.gov.uk. We will then contact you by telephone to collect payment. Please note that the application is not complete (and therefore the consultation period does not start) until payment has been taken. We therefore strongly suggest you use the online application portal as applying by email is likely to delay the completion of your application. If you are emailing your application and documents, please send them all attached to a single email if at all possible, so that we can deal with your application as efficiently as possible.
There is no provision to transfer or vary pavement licences, so you would need to apply for a new licence in such circumstances.
On the same day that you make the application, you are required to give notice of your application by fixing a notice of the application to the premises so that it is visible to, and can be read easily by, members of the public who are not on the premises. You also have to make sure the notice remains in place until the end of the public consultation period which means the period of 14 days beginning with the day after you make the application. You must use this template notice for this process.
All applications are subject to a 14 day consultation period starting the day after the day the application is made, then the council has a further 14 days within which they should make a decision on the application. Public holidays are not included within either 14 day period. If the council fails to make a decision within this timeframe, the licence is ‘deemed granted’. There is no right of appeal if the application is rejected.
Current applications
Applications currently under consultation are as follows:
Daisy Love, Henley – consultation end date 10 December 2024
If you have concerns about any of the above applications, you can send your comments by email to licensing@southoxon.gov.uk. You must include your name and address within your representation. You may wish to refer to the guidance and conditions above, in case these address your concerns.
We will take into account any representations received during the consultation period and consider these when determining the application. There is no right of appeal if you are not happy with the decision made, but if you do not believe due process has been followed when determining the application, you are entitled to submit a complaint in accordance with our complaints procedure.
If you are experiencing problems associated with a pavement licence, in the first instance we would advise you to talk to the manager of the premises to try to resolve the matter informally. If this fails to resolve the issue, please contact us and we will try to assist. Please note that issues relating to crime and disorder must be reported to the Police, and noise nuisance to Environmental Protection.
For details on how we use data relating to licence holders and applicants, please see our privacy notice for licence holders and applicants.
For details on how we use data relating to complainants and those making representations against a licence application, please see our privacy notice for complainants and objectors.
Contact us - Licensing
01235 422556
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)
South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
