Apply for street trading consent

If you want to sell or offer for sale any article in a street you must have a street trading consent. You must also have land owner consent.

There are some streets in Swindon where street trading is prohibited. If a street is designated as a “prohibited street” then it is a criminal offence to engage in street trading in that street.

Street trading is the selling or offering for sale any article (including food or drink) in the street from a van or stall. The term ‘street’ refers to part of any road, footway or other area to which the public has access without payment. You must have land owner consent. 

Fees vary according to what is being sold and where the trading takes place.

Examples of street trading activities include:

• trading in a street from mobile and static structures (including kiosks, stalls, vans)
• ice-cream vans (excluding motorised ice-cream vans which keep moving from street to street not stopping in one place for longer than fifteen minutes)

Street Trading is regulated under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

Our street trading policy outlines the council’s approach to the licensing of street trading in Swindon’s district. It is used when making decisions about granting or refusing street trading consents and provides guidance to new applicants and existing consent holders.

Please note: Street trading involving food will not be permitted within 300 metres of an educational establishment, school or dedicated permanent play facility.

Types of application

Consents can be for:

• a single day (short term consent)
• seven days (short term consent)
• 28 days
• year-round 

Short term consents

Short term street trading consents are issued to traders or for traders attending events where trading is limited to one day or up to a week.

Market consents

Temporary street trading consent can be issued to multiple traders under a market consent, at a discounted rate for a period not exceeding 28 days. 

Market street trading consents are issued for markets that do not operate under a Market Charter or Order.

Markets under street trading consent will only be considered in Swindon town centre.

Things to consider before applying

• Accessibility – can you access the site safely and will your unit cause problems for pedestrians?
• Parking restrictions – can you legally park at the location? Parking restrictions such as double yellow lines continue all the way across the pavement so any restrictions on the road would also apply to the footpath.
• You will need to register as a food business. You can do this by visiting the food business registration page. 
• You may need to determine whether planning permission is required. You can apply by visiting the apply for planning permission page.
• You will need to obtain consent from the land owner
• Check below to find out if the area you want to trade in is prohibited

Town Centre prohibited streets

All street trading within the boundaries of the district is controlled by Swindon Borough Council.

Street trading is not permitted in any of the following designated prohibited streets:

• Bridge Street
• Regent Street
• Canal Walk (markets only)
• The Parade (markets only)
• Havelock Street (markets only)
• Regent Circus (markets only)

Street trading in the remaining streets is only permitted when a street trading consent has been granted.

How to apply

If you wish to proceed, you must provide the following documents alongside your application:

• Proof of eligibility of the applicant to work in the UK (where applicable)
• A plan showing the proposed trading location with position of the unit shown in red, (not required for mobile units)
• Written permission from a landowner if the street trading activity is to be carried out on any land owned privately
• A copy of current third party liability insurance up to £5,000,000
• A Basic Criminal Disclosure for the consent holder and any persons that assist on a regular basis from the Disclosure and Barring Service that is not more than 1 month old
• One recently taken passport size photograph of the consent holder and any persons that assist on a regular basis.

Complete the online form below:

Street trader application form

Year-round permit quarterly payments

Complete the online form below to make payment for your year-round permit quarterly fee:

Full trading licence payment form

Application fees

• Single day street trading consent - £37 per trader, per day
• Single day street trading consent for 15 or more stalls - £25 per trader, per day
• Seven days street trading consent - £66.50 per trader 
• 28 day street trading consent - £175 per trader 
• 28 day market street trading consent between 1 November and 30 January (minimum 3 stalls) - £250 per trader 
• Year-round street trading consent - £2,600 per annum or £650 quarterly payments