Planning Class E (Café/restaurant) change of use/licensing applications
Case reference FOI2026/01306
Received 24 June 2026
Published 1 July 2026
Request
For each of the financial years 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26 (to date), please provide the following information. This request relates to Guildford Borough Council.
1. The total number of planning applications received for change of use to restaurant or café use (Use Class E — restaurant/café), and of those determined, (a) the average and median number of calendar days from validation to decision; and (b) the number determined within the 8-week statutory period and the number that exceeded it.
2. The total number of new premises licence applications received under the Licensing Act 2003 where the primary use of the premises is as a restaurant or café, and of those determined, (a) the average and median number of calendar days from receipt of application to grant or refusal of the licence; and (b) the number determined within the authority's target timeframe and the number that exceeded it.
Response
Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please find the answers to your queries below:
For each of the financial years 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26 (to date), please provide the following information. This request relates to Guildford Borough Council.
1. The total number of planning applications received for change of use to restaurant or café use (Use Class E — restaurant/café), and of those determined, (a) the average and median number of calendar days from validation to decision; and (b) the number determined within the 8-week statutory period and the number that exceeded it.
The information requested relates to planning application data which is publicly available via the Council’s online planning register:
https://www.guildford.gov.uk/article/24686/Search-for-information-about-a-planning-application
Applications can be searched by date range, application type, address/keyword and decision outcome. Decision notices are also available online and include the reasons for refusal where applicable.
As the requested information is accessible in the public domain, we would refer you to the Council’s online planning register to obtain the relevant data. As such, the information you require can be found from publicly available sources and consequentially under Section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible.
2. The total number of new premises licence applications received under the Licensing Act 2003 where the primary use of the premises is as a restaurant or café, and of those determined, (a) the average and median number of calendar days from receipt of application to grant or refusal of the licence; and (b) the number determined within the authority's target timeframe and the number that exceeded it.
2023/24: 3 (61 Days Avg, 46 Day Median)
2024/25: 1 (57 Days Avg, 57 Day Median)
2025/26: 9 (48 Day Avg, 34 Day Median)
The Licencing Authority is required to advertise new premises licence applications for a period of no less than 28 days.
The life cycle of an application can differ depending on whether:
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Validation time is impacted by missing application documents
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Representations made during consultation can result in the application being referred to committee. Committees must be held within 20 working days of the consultation end day, and the applicant notified of the outcome within 5 days.
Due to the above, we do not set a target timeframe.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
Guildford Borough Council
Documents
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