Smoke ban planning a 'new toy' for councils

Planning applications for new garden patios and outdoor smoking shelters will provide local authorities with a "new toy to play with," according to a marketing consultant.

Michelle Baker, consultant with clean air initiative AIR, told the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association seminar: "Noise will be the single most difficult issue outside pubs and planning objections will be plentiful.​

"The planners will attempt to throw up numerous blocking procedures with noise and litter also high on the agenda."

Noise will be the single most difficult issue outside pubs and planning objections will be plentiful​Michelle Baker, consultant with clean air initiative AIR.

Baker advised licensees to take no chances when drawing up plans for outside facilities and urged hosts always to check with local councils to discover whether planning consent was needed for schemes.

"There will be hotspot local authorities in England who will be more vigilant than the average council.​

"Already we are hearing that parasols and outside structures may have to be 1.5 metres from walls in some local authority areas.

"This is not in the regulations but the suggestion has been made all the same," she added.

Baker has drawn up five key points for licensees to consider when devising outside shelter schemes.

Key points​1 Check what your competitors are doing Talk to your neighbours about your plans3 Check whether planning permission is required4 Put in planning applications as soon as possible5 Beware of cowboy operators and use quality materials which can stand up to the English climate.