Government has confirmed that when non-essential retail is permitted to open – from 12 April at the earliest – in England longer opening hours will be reintroduced.  Shops/retailers will have the flexibility to open until 10pm Monday to Saturday.

These temporary measures will make socially distanced shopping easier to continue and the longer opening hours for retail will give shoppers more flexibility and ease transport pressures.

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.