Longer opening hours in England will help people return to our high streets safely when non-essential shops re-open from 12 April at the earliest.

Extended daily opening hours for non-essential retail will continue – helping people return to our high streets safely, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick MP has confirmed today.

This will help ensure the safe re-opening of non-essential shops by giving people greater flexibility to avoid peak times and easing transport pressures.

When shops reopen from 12 April at the earliest, they will have the flexibility to open until 10pm Monday to Saturday. As set out in the government’s four-step roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions across in England, 12 April will mark the beginning of the second stage of the plan when the following businesses will be able to open their doors to the public:

• Non-essential retail, personal care premises, such as hairdressers and nail salons, and public buildings, such as libraries and community centres
• Most outdoor attractions and settings, including zoos, theme parks, drive-in cinemas and drive-in performances
• Indoor leisure facilities, such as gyms and swimming pools
• Hospitality venues that serve people outdoors only
• Self-contained accommodation, such as holiday lets
• Funerals, weddings, receptions and commemorative events that will rise from 6 to 15 attendees

As part of the £56 million ‘Welcome Back Fund’ announced last week, Mr Jenrick is encouraging councils to continue supporting social distancing measures and relaxing planning rules where possible to ensure people can continue to keep a safe distance on our high streets.

The government is also extending flexible working hours on construction sites, allowing food deliveries to supermarkets over more time periods, and keeping the flexibility for pubs and restaurants to erect marquees to help increase seating capacity in a Covid-secure way.

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