Pavement café licences to remain free in Wakefield

Wakefield Council has announced it will continue to offer free pavement café licences for local businesses beyond 1 April 2025, ensuring that businesses can benefit from additional outdoor space without the added burden of licensing fees.

Under new national laws, councils have the authority to charge up to £500 for new applications and £350 for renewals of pavement café licences. However, Wakefield Council has decided not to pass these charges onto local businesses.

Cllr Les Shaw, Cabinet Member for Resources, commented:
“Supporting our local businesses and high streets to thrive is one of our top priorities. I’m really pleased that we’ve made the decision to not charge for pavement café licences. It’s one less thing for businesses to worry about as they try and bring in more customers. Small cafes and restaurants, in particular, benefit from having extra outside space, which in turn helps boost the local economy.”

Cllr Michael Graham, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Growth, added:
“This is extremely welcome news for our local businesses who make use of these licences. Pavement cafés enhance the vibrancy and hospitality of our towns and city centres, and by continuing to offer licences free of charge, we hope more businesses will take up the opportunity to provide outdoor cafés and contribute to the thriving atmosphere of our high streets.”

Since the introduction of the Business and Planning Act in June 2020, councils have been able to charge a maximum fee of £100 for pavement café licences, but Wakefield made the decision not to implement these charges to support businesses recovering from the pandemic. With the recent changes in the law increasing fees, Wakefield Council has again chosen not to pass these charges onto local businesses.

Currently, there are 51 active pavement café licences in the Wakefield district, reflecting the positive impact of this initiative on local businesses.

Thomas Wales, Chief Executive of Wakefield BID, said:
“Wakefield BID is pleased that Wakefield Council has responded to our concerns and made the decision to continue offering free pavement café licences. We have long advocated for this important support, knowing how essential outdoor space is for businesses, particularly in these challenging times.

This initiative not only supports the growth of our cafés, restaurants, and nighttime economy but also enhances the vibrancy of our high streets. We appreciate the Council’s continued commitment to the local economy and to working with Wakefield BID to create a thriving city centre for all.”