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Use Class Guide
Conventional Office SearchUse Class Guide
Whatever type of commercial property in London you may be looking for, please see below a Use Class Guide detailing the classifications of the various types of commercial property.
 
Summary Guide to Use Classes Order
and Permitted Changes of Use
 
Use Classes Order
Inc. 2005 Amendment
(See note 1)
Use
Classes
Order 1972
Description General Permitted Development
(Amendment) Order 2005 (see note 2)
A1 Shops (see note 3) Class I Shops, Retail Warehouses,
Hairdressers, Undertakers,
Travel & Ticket Agencies,
Post Offices, Dry cleaners,
Internet Cafes etc.

Pet Shops, Cat-meat shops, Tripe shops, Sandwich bars,
Showrooms, Domestic hire shops, Funeral directors
No permitted changes

No permitted changes
A2 Financial and Professional
Services (see note 3)
Class II Banks, Building Societies, Estate & Employment Agencies, Professional & Financial Services, Betting Offices Permitted change to A1 where a ground floor display window exists
A3 Restaurants & Cafes   Restaurants, Snack Bars, Cafes Permitted change to
A1 or A2
A4 Drinking Establishments   Pubs or bars Permitted change to A1, A2 or A3
A5 Hot Food Takeaways   Hot food takeaways Permitted change to A1, A2 or A3
Sui Generis (see note 4)   Shops selling and/or Displaying Motor Vehicles, Retail Warehouse Clubs, Launderettes, Taxi or Vehicle Hire Businesses, Amusement Centres, Petrol Filling Stations No permitted changes
B1 Business (see note 5) Class II
(a)

Offices, not within A2 Permitted change to B8 where no
more than 235m²
  (b) Research and Development, Studios,
Laboratories, High Technology
Permitted change to B8 where no
more than 235m²
  Class III
(c)
Light Industry Permitted change to B8 where no
more than 235m²
B2
General Industry
(see note 6)
Class IV-IX General Industry Permitted change to B1 or B8
B8 limited to no more than 235m²
B8
Storage or Distribution
Class X Wholesale Warehouses, Distribution Centres,
Repositories
Permitted change to B1 where no more than 235m²
Sui Generis   Any works registerable under the Alkali, etc.
Works Regulation Act 1906
No Permitted change
C1
Hotels (see note 7)
Class XI Hotels, Boarding and Guest Houses No Permitted change
C2
Residential Institutions
Class XII Residential Schools and Colleges No Permitted change
  Class XIV Hospitals and
Convalescent / Nursing homes
No Permitted change
C3
Dwelling Houses
(see note 8)
  Dwellings, small businesses at home,
communal housing of elderly and handicapped
people
No Permitted change
Sui Generis   Hostel No Permitted change
D1
Non-residential Institutions
Class XIII Places of Worship, Church Halls No Permitted change
  Class XV Clinics, Health Centres, Crèches, Day Nurseries,
Consulting Rooms
No Permitted change
  Class XVI Museums, Public Halls, Libraries, Art Galleries,
Exhibition Halls
No Permitted change
    Non - residential Education and Training Centres No Permitted change
D2
Assembly and Leisure
Class XVII Cinemas, Music and Concert Halls No Permitted change
  Class XVIII Dance, Sports Halls, Swimming Baths, Skating
Rinks, Gymnasiums
No Permitted change
    Other Indoor and Outdoor Sports and Leisure
Uses, Bingo Halls, Casinos
No Permitted change
Sui Generis
(See note 4)
Class XVII Theatres, Night-Clubs No Permitted change


NOTES:


1. The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 is the principle order which has been subject to a number of subsequent amendments. Changes of use within a specific class do not require planning permission provided that the use subsists, the planning permission has been implemented and no restrictive condition is attached. The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Amendment (England) Order 2005 introduced new A4 and A5 classes and placed motor car showrooms and night clubs in Sui Generis category.

2. The permitted development rights shown in the final column do not require planning permission where all the criteria set out in the order are met and no restrictive conditions apply.

3. The General Permitted Development Order 1995 provides for permitted change of use of a building from Class A1 or Class A2 to a mixed use for the purposes of either Class A1 or Class A2 and as a single flat, and from such a mixed use to Class A1 or Class A2 use provided the Class A1 or Class A2 use is situated on a floor below the single flat and various other conditions are met.

4. Sui Generis is a term, which refers to a use on its own. Any planning use not falling within a specific class within the Use Classes Order falls within this category.

5. A B1 use must be capable of being undertaken "in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit".

6. The Use Classes (Amendment) Order 1995 amends the 1987 Order by omitting Classes B4 - B7 (special industrial groups B - E). Industrial processes previously within these classes now fall within Class B2 (general industrial).

7. A C1 use is defined as a hotel or a boarding or guesthouse where, in each case, no significant element of care is provided.

8. Six or less residents unless living together as a family.

9. It should be noted that permitted changes of use identified above are ratchet changes, i.e. cannot be made in reverse.

10. Various other permitted development rights exist for, inter alia, industrial and warehouse buildings, dwelling houses, agricultural buildings, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and development by statutory undertakers.

11. The above is intended as a general guide only. Reference must be made in the final instance to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended the Use Classes (Amendment) Order 2005, and General Permitted Development (Amendment) Order 2005 and written confirmation obtained from the Local Planning Authority that no consent is required.

For further information please contact us on 020 3167 4997 or fill in our enquiry form

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