NEW data has found that the Bradford District has seen the highest levels of successful applications for alfresco seating in Yorkshire.

The pandemic led to businesses across the country re-thinking how they could reopen and still allow customers to socially distance.

Last year rules regulating outdoor seating on public highways were relaxed, and in Bradford businesses were invited to apply to Bradford Council for outdoor seating.

Since then 90 outdoor seating applications have been granted.

Data collected by PriceWaterhouseCooper found that this is higher than any other area of Yorkshire.

As well as relaxing its al fresco seating rules, which had charged businesses to set up outdoor seating, the Council also provided over £130,000 in outdoor trading grants to help businesses buy outdoor furniture to make the most of their open-air spaces.

The analysis by PwC, who have offices in Bradford, shows nationwide, more than 3,300 fast-track applications for Pavement Licences were lodged by business looking to expand their outdoor trading spaces, with over 1,000 being granted in England.

The Bradford district came out top in the Yorkshire and Humber region with the most being granted by the local council to businesses, especially those in the hospitality trade, looking to tap in to the demand for outdoor seating.

City centre bars apply for outdoor seating

Businesses taking advantage of the Pavement Licences in the Bradford district include, pubs and bars, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops as well as fish and chip shops and bakeries across the District, from the city centre to Ilkley.

In North Parade alone there are several outdoor seating areas that were created in on-street parking bays.

Zelf Hussain, retail restructuring partner at PwC, said: “The take up of these pavement licences shows that for all forms of hospitality businesses, just how much effort they are making to keep going and how every penny counts, especially in times of financial stress.

“The last social distancing restrictions are lifting, but we’ve seen businesses encouraging customers to keep using their outdoor spaces. Some customers still feel more comfortable being outside, especially during the summer months, helping to allay any lingering concerns about meeting indoors.”

Bradford Council’s Highways staff have also been working with local businesses across the district to liaise with business owners, assess sites, carry out public consultations, review security arrangements.

Funding was also secured for footpath extensions in key locations, so that cafés, bars and restaurants can provide more outdoor space for alfresco seating or queuing and pedestrians can still use the pavements safely.

Initially this was especially important in helping to keep people safe through the height of the pandemic by allowing for social distancing, now those restrictions have eased the extensions are helping to increase the flow of footfall and bringing much needed extra trade for these businesses.

To help the district’s hospitality businesses Bradford Council also offered a grant of up to £1,500 to support business to invest in outdoor furniture and equipment to adapt and improve the customer experience while continuing to trade outdoors.

The Outdoor Trading Grants were offered as part of the council’s Additional Restrictions Grant funding from the Government. Over 112 grants have already been awarded with over £130,000 already distributed and a further 100 businesses are due to receive these grants shortly.

Since the first lockdown in March last year, the council has paid out over £220million in Covid-19 grants to businesses impacted by the government’s restrictions.

The Cultural and Economic Development teams within Bradford Council have drawn on their different areas of expertise to work together to invest £200,000 of Gainshare Funding to develop creative cultural initiatives and test out new projects that help bring life back to our high streets. The initiatives to come out of this collaborative working will be aimed at engaging businesses and local communities in culture led economic recovery to attract footfall and trade to high streets and town centres.

Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, Alex Ross-Shaw, said: “It’s really good we’ve been able to facilitate businesses adapting to a new way of operating as the economy re-opens. Many of these changes will be here to stay and benefit businesses and customers for years to come.

“Our officers have been working really hard to process these pavement licences, as well as all the different grants that have become available to get this money out to our businesses as quickly as they can to support the district’s economic recovery.

“The collaborative work of our Economy and Cultural teams is another great example of ways that we are looking to invest in and to re-energise and reinvigorate our high streets and city and town centres while support the district’s bid to be City of Culture in 2025.”