Planning Classifications
Use Classes - A “Use Class” is a grouping together of similar land uses. The categories are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 as amended. One can change from any use in a Use Class to another use in the same Class without the need to apply for specific planning permission, though an application would still be required for most external building works. Here is a summary of the main types of use in each Use Class. The descriptions under each heading give a general indication of the sort of use included, they are not a definition.
A1 Shops - Shops, post offices, travel agents, hairdressers, funeral directors, internet cafes, dry cleaners (but retail warehouse clubs are excluded)
A2 Financial and professional services. - Banks, building societies, betting offices and other financial and professional services provided mainly to visiting members of the public.
A3 Restaurants and cafes - Use for the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises.
A4 Drinking establishments - Use as a public house, wine bar or other drinking establishment (but not a night club)
A5 Hot food takeaways - Use for the sale of hot food for consumption of the premises.
B1 Business - Offices, research and development, light industry appropriate in a residential area.
B2 General industrial
B8 Storage or distribution. This class includes open air storage
C1 Hotels - Hotels, boarding and guest houses where no significant element of care is given.
C2 Residential institutions - Residential care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools, residential colleges and training centres.
C3 Dwelling houses - Family houses or houses occupied by up to six residents living together as a single household, including a household where care is provided for residents.
D1 Non residential institutions - Clinics, health centres, crèches, day nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries, museums, libraries, halls, places of worship.
D2 Assembly and leisure - Cinemas, concert halls, bingo and dance halls (but not night clubs), casinos, swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or sports arenas (except for motor sporta or where firearms are used).
CHANGES OF USE NOT REQUIRING A PLANNING APPLICATION
These changes of use are permitted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.
From To
A2 (financial and professional services) where A1 (Shops)
Premise have a display window at ground level
A3 (Restaurants and cafes) A1 or A2
A4 (Drinking Establishments) A1 or A2 or A3
A5 (Hot food takeaways) A1 or A2 or A3
B1 (Business) (permission limited to 235 square metres B8 (Storage or distribution)
Of floor space in the building)
B2 (General industrial) B1
B2 (General Industrial) (permission limited to 235 square metres B8
of floor space in the building)
B8 (Storage or distribution) (permission limited to 235 square metres B1
Of floor space in the building)
A planning application is also not required for a change of use in the following circumstances: from A1 to A1 plus a single flat above and from A2 to A2 plus a single flat above. These changes are reversible without an application only if the part that is now a flat was, respectively, in either A1 or A2 use immediately it became a flat.
CHANGES OF USE REQUIRING A PLANNING APPLICATION
Applications for planning permission are always required for material changes of use involving amusement centres, theatres, scrap yards, filling stations, car showrooms, taxi and car hire businesses, night clubs, retail warehouse clubs, and hostels. A “retail warehouse club” is defined as a club where goods are sold, or displayed for sale, only to members.