Guide to the Use Classes Order in England
All buildings fall under a Use Class as defined by the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended). This guide provides an overview of the current Use Classes Order and the permitted development rights available to change between uses as set out within the Town and County Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended). Reference must be made to the limitations, restrictions and conditions contained within the legislation before proceeding with any change of use. It will be necessary to check whether permitted development rights have been withdrawn for your property or area before commencing any change of use.
B2 | General Industrial
Industrial processes (other than those that can be carried out in a residential area without harming amenity). Excludes incineration, chemical treatment, landfill and hazardous waste.
B8 | Storage and Distribution
Use for storage or as a distribution centre (includes open air storage)
C1 | Hotels
Hotels, boarding and guest house (where no significant element of care is provided). Excludes hostels.
See Part 3 Class I
C4 | Houses in Multiple Occupation
Small shared houses occupied by between three and six unrelated individuals, as their only or main residence, who share basic amenities.
None
State-funded school F1(a) subject to Prior Approval application. It may also revert back to its previous C1 use.
See Part 3 Class T
C2 | Residential Institutions
Residential care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools, residential colleges and training centres
C2A | Secure Residential Institutions
Use for a provision of secure residential accommodation, including use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or use as a military barracks.
C3 | Dwellinghouse
C3(a)coversusebyasinglepersonorafamily.
C3(b)coversuptosixpeoplelivingtogetherasasingle householdandreceivingcare
State-funded school F1(a) subject to Prior Approval. It may also revert back to its previous C1 use
See Part 3 Class T
C3(c)allowsforgroupsofpeople(uptosix)livingtogether asasinglehousehold C4
See Part 3 Class L
Class E
Commercial Business and Services
Includes shops, restaurants, financial and professional services, indoor sport, recreation and fitness, medical or health services, creche, day nursery and day care, offices, research and development and industrial processes which can be carried out in a residential area without harming amenity
See overleaf for a full schedule of Class E uses
See Part 3 Class L
C3nofloorspacerestrictionsubjecttoPrior Approval
SeePart3ClassMA
State-fundedschool(F1a),subjectto meetingalllimitationsandconditions, includingPriorApproval.Itmayalsochange backtoitsprevioususe
SeePart3ClassT
Amixedusewithuptotworesidentialflats abovepremisesusedforClassE,betting officeorpaydayloanshopsubjecttoPrior Approvalandotherconditions/limitations Itmayalsochangebacktoitspreviousnonresidentialuse
SeePart3ClassG
Class F1
Learning and non-residential institutions
E.g. schools, museums, public libraries, exhibition halls, places or worship, law court.
Class F2
Local Community Uses
Community halls, outdoor sport or recreation (not involving motorised vehicles or firearms), indoor or outdoor swimming pools, skating rinks, shops less than 280m selling essential goods and at least 1km from a similar shop.
None
Sui Generis
Uses which do not fall within the specified use classes includes theatres, large HMO (more than six people sharing), hostels, petrol filling stations, shops selling and/or displaying motor vehicles, scrap yards, retail warehouses, nightclubs, launderettes, taxi or vehicle hire businesses, amusement centres, casinos, funfairs, waste disposal installations, betting offices, payday loan shops, pubs or drinking establishments, drinking establishments with expanded food provision, hot food takeaways, venues for live music performances, cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls, dance halls and other uses.
SUI GENERIS PERMITTED CHANGES
OF USE
Residential C3 up to ten units (subject to conditions and limitations, including Prior Approval)
See Part 3 Class Q
AgriculturalBuildings
AmusementArcades,Betting Offices,Casinos,HotFood
Takeaway,Launderettes,Payday loanshops
A flexible use within B8, C1 & E up to 1,000m (Prior Approval required)
See Part 3 Class R
State-funded school F1(a) subject to Prior Approval
See Part 3 Class S
Residential C3 up to 150m subject to Prior Approval
Class E (with the exception of amusement arcades and launderettes)
Payday Loan Shops and betting offices may change to a mixed use
MORE ABOUT CLASS E
ClassEwasfirstintroducedin2020andbroadly replacestherevokedClassesA1,2and3,B1,D1(a-b) and'indoorsport'fromD2(e):
E(a)Displayorretailsaleofgoods,otherthanhotfood;
E(b)Saleoffoodanddrinkforconsumption(mostly)on thepremises;
E(c)Provisionof:
E(c)(i)FinancialServices;
E(c)(ii)ProfessionalServices(otherthanhealth ormedicalservices);
E(c)(iii)Otherappropriateservicesina commercial,businessorservicelocality;
E(d)Indoorsport,recreationorfitness(notinvolving motorisedvehiclesorfirearmsoruseasaswimming
poolorskatingrink);
E(e)Provisionofmedicalorhealthservices(exceptthe useofpremisesattachedtotheresidenceofthe consultantorpractitioner);
E(F)Creche,daynurseryordaycare(notincludinga residentialuse);
E(g)Useswhichcanbecarriedoutinaresidentialarea withoutdetrimenttoitsamenity:
E(g)(i)Officestocarryoutanyadministrativeor operationalfunctions;
E(g)(ii)Researchanddevelopmentofproductsand processes;
E(g)(iii)Industrialprocesses.
Publichouse,winebar,ordrinking establishment/Drinking establishmentwithexpanded foodprovision
May change to or from a Drinking establishment with expanded food provision.
See Part 3 Class AA
Changes of use within the same use class do not require planning permission There may also be temporary permitted development rights available which are not covered in this guide (Please see part 4 of the GPDO). Some changes will require the Council's Prior Approval before the change of use can take place. Building regulations will still apply.
CLAIRE ALERS-HANKEY Partner, Head of Planning
ANDREW PRESTON Planning Partner
STEPHEN BAIMBRIDGE
MARK RICHARDS
LAURA POLLEY