Change of use class

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order categorises uses of land and buildings. Developments may not be used for purposes that are not within the use class for which they received planning permission.

Use class designations are defined below, although It is the responsibility of the local planning authority to decide which class a use falls into, depending on its particular circumstances:

• A1. Shops.
• A2. Financial and professional services.
• A3. Food and drink.
• B1. Business.
• B2. General industrial.
• B3 to B7. Special industrial.
• B8. Storage or distribution.
• C1. Hotels and hostels.
• C2. Residential institutions.
• C3. Dwellinghouses.
• D1. Non-residential institutions.
• D2. Assembly and leisure.
• ‘Sui generis’ buildings are those that do not fall within any particular use class.

See: Use class designation for land and buildings for more information.

Planning permission is not needed to change the use of a development when the current use and the proposed use are within the same class.

Changing the use of a development from one class to another may require planning permission, however, some changes are considered to be ‘permitted developments’ that are allowed without the need for a planning application. These permitted changes are listed on the Planning Portal website and are summarised below:

From 30 May 2013.

From 6 April 2014 (with some restrictions)

This already very confusing situation is further complicated by the ability of local authorities to make article 4 directions which remove permitted development rights to protect the character of a particular area. See: Article 4 direction for more information.

It may be necessary to consult the local planning authority to be certain whether a change of use class is considered a permitted development or not.

NB: The Queen's speech in June 2014 suggested there would be further reform to change of use rules to make it easier for empty and redundant buildings to be converted into productive use, supporting brownfield regeneration and increasing the supply of new homes

On 31 July 2014, Brandon Lewis, newly-appointed Minister of State for Housing and Planning at the Department for Communities and Local Government, announced proposals suggesting that rules governing change of use from a shop to a restaurant, and from a shop to leisure use, may be relaxed in order to help high streets adapt to changing customer needs. Payday loan shops and betting shops would be excluded from a new, wider “retail class”, so councils have a greater say over these being set up in their area. (Ref. DCLG, Making the planning system work more efficiently and effectively, Giving communities more power in planning local development, 31 July 2014.)

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Alterations to existing buildings.
• Article 4 direction.
• Avoiding planning permission pitfalls.
• Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
• Converting commercial offices to residential accommodation.
• Detailed planning permission.
• Land use.
• National Planning Policy Framework.
• Outline planning permission.
• Permitted development.
• Permitted development: The end of the high street or a blessing in disguise?
• Planning enforcement.
• Planning permission.
• Prior approval.
• Sui generis.
• Sui generis and planning permission.
• Use class designation for land and buildings.
• Zoning in the United States.

[edit] External links

• The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order.
• Planning portal guidance.
• Greater flexibilities for change of use: consultation.