COUNCILS in the north have been urged to be "flexible" on new temporary on-street seating arrangements for cafes and bars.
Stormont infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon has written to local authorities to request a pragmatic approach to open-air seating, in a bid to boost struggling businesses keen to return to serving customers in a safe, outdoor environment.
The SDLP minister said planning permission will not normally be required for temporary new seats on pavements, but that each case should be "considered on its merits".
"Businesses and workers across the north are now planning how they can get back to work safely and how they can adjust to the new challenges of Covid-19," she said.
"For many customers, safety will be a big consideration and businesses are having to change the way they serve their customers in our new normal. With planning sitting directly in my department, I want to ensure we support councils and assure traders and businesses that there are no planning barriers to temporary changes.
"I am committed to working in partnership with councils and the hospitality industry. That is why I have written to all of the councils asking them, as planning authorities, to temporarily take a flexible and pragmatic planning approach to the use of on-street seating for cafes and bars, beer gardens and similar outdoor areas to accommodate physical / social distancing. This sensible approach to planning enforcement will ensure that there are no unnecessary restrictions on the hospitality industry providing on-street facilities to facilitate social distancing."
