Content for class "clear" Goes Here

 

Use Classes Information - UK Commercial Property

You will notice from our drop down list that we categorise Commercial Buildings into Use Classes.

Landlords Permission

If you are taking a Lease on assignment from an existing Leaseholder, or even a New Agreement, the Use is likely to be specified within the Lease and Landlord’s permission will be required to change this to another Use.

Planning Permission

Additionally in the UK, The Town and Country Planning Acts, and in particular, the Use Classes Order controls the Use of Commercial Buildings, in order to achieve a balance of uses in a locality, to keep Shopping Streets vibrant and maintain a mix of Uses within a certain area. Highways considerations sometimes dictate whether Industrial Areas can be used   for Warehousing. Policies are usually set out in the Local Development Framework.

Thus it is sometimes necessary to obtain planning permission for a Change of Use of a Commercial Building in order that it can be used for the purpose for which you require it.

Please remember that a change of Use is not automatically granted and there may be instances where a Change is refused by the Local Planning Authority.

The Use Classes Order

Some Uses are what is known as Sui Generis which means that they require a specific planning permission and have no permitted changes without another planning consent.

Some Uses may benefit from a Permitted change (without the need for planning permission) by the Use Classes Order and the various Uses and Permitted Changes are outlined below.

The List below gives an outline of the Law relating to Use Classes but specific enquiries as to permitted uses should be addressed to your Local Planning Authority for a definitive view .

Description of Class and Permitted Uses   Permitted Change

A1 – Shops

Shops, Retail Warehouses, Retail Showrooms, pet shops, hairdressers, undertakers, post offices travel and ticket agencies, domestic hire shops, dry cleaners( where no cleaning is carried out on the premises), sandwich bars (where no cooking is carried out on the premises) Internet Cafes.

  

No Permitted Change allowed without Planning Permission to other Uses.

A2 - Financial and Professional Services

Banks, building societies, estate agents, employment agents, other office uses appropriate to a shopping area including betting shops.

  

These uses can change to A1 if there is a window display.

A3 - Restaurants and Cafes

Restaurants Cafes and Snack Bars where food is cooked and consumed on the premises.

  

These uses can change to A1 or A2 if there is a window display.

A4 - Drinking Establishments

Public Houses and Bars where the primary purpose is the sale and consumption of Alcohol. (Not Night Clubs).

  

A1,A2,A3.

A5 - Hot food Takeaways

Takeaway Premises and fast food outlets for consumption off the premises.

  

A1,A2,A3.

B1 - Business

Offices which are not within the A2 Class.
Research and Development, Studios. Laboratories, high tech uses, and for
Light Industry (for B1 to be applicable the use must be capable of being carried out in a Residential Area without harm to amenity).

 

B8 ( up to 235 sq mtrs).

B2 - General Industrial

General and Special Industry.

  

B1 ( no size restriction)
B8 up to 235 sq mtrs.

B8 - Storage and Distribution

Wholesale Warehouses, distribution, repositories. Includes open air storage.

  

B1 ( up to 235 sq mtrs).

C1 - Hotels

Hotels, Boarding Houses, Guest Houses where no significant element of care is provided.

  

No Permitted Change allowed without Planning Permission.

C2 - Residential Institutions

Residential Schools, residential colleges, boarding schools and training centres, Hospitals, care and nursing homes.

  

No Permitted Change allowed without Planning Permission.

C3 - Dwelling Houses

Dwelling Houses for individuals, families or communal housing of up to six individuals living as a household including a household where care is provided for residents.

  

No Permitted Change allowed without Planning Permission.

D1 - Non Residential Institutions

Clinics, Health Centres, Day Centres, day nurseries, consulting rooms, places of worship, places of religious instruction, museums, libraries, art galleries and public exhibition halls, non residential schools, colleges and educational centres, creches and law courts, 

 

No Permitted Change allowed without Planning Permission.

D2 - Assembly and Leisure

Cinemas, bingo halls, casinos, dance and concert halls, swimming pools, gymnasia, skating rinks, other indoor and outdoor sports not involving firearms or motor sport.

  

No Permitted Change allowed without Planning Permission.

Sui Generis

Sale and display of motor vehicles, petrol filling stations, taxi or vehicle hire businesses, launderettes, amusement centres, retail warehouse clubs.

Works required to be registered under the Alkali etc Works Regulation Act 1906.

Hostels. Houses in multiple paying occupation, scrap yards.

Theatres, Nightclubs and Funfairs.

  

No Permitted Change allowed without Planning Permission.