Use Classes were brought into force through The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (known as the “UCO”). This Order places the uses of land and buildings into various categories known as Use Classes. Buildings and sites can change how they are used so without requiring planning permission so long as it stays in the same Use Class. Remember, physical are not included so if you need to physically make changes you may need to make a planning application.
The UCO was most recently updated in September 2020 and included the introduction of “Class E – Commercial, Business and Service”. This was a big change as a number of uses which were previously in separate use classes, now fall under the same use class. Class E merges (the now revoked) A1 (Shops), A2 (Financial and professional services), A3 (Restaurants and Cafes), B1 (Business), D1 (Non-residential institutions), and ‘indoor sport’ from D2 (Assembly and leisure).
Class E includes the following uses:
► E(a) – Display or retail sale of goods, other than hot food
► E(b) – Sale of food and drink for consumption (mostly) on the premises
► E(c) – Provision of:
↳ E(c)(i) – Financial services
↳ E(c)(ii) – Professional services (other than health or medical services), or
↳ E(c)(iii) – Other appropriate services in a commercial, business or service locality
► E(d) – Indoor sport, recreation or fitness (not involving motorised vehicles or firearms or use as a swimming pool or skating rink)
► E(e) – Provision of medical or health services (except the use of premises attached to the residence of the consultant or practitioner)
► E(f) – Creche, day nursery or day centre (not including a residential use)
► E(g) – Uses which can be carried out in a residential area without detriment to its amenity:
↳ W(g)(i) – Offices to carry out any operational or administrative functions
↳ E(g)(ii) – Research and development of products and processes
↳ E(g)(iii) – Industrial processes
Alongside not needing permission to change between the above, Class E also benefits from certain permitted development rights.
For example, one permitted development right is Class MA which enables a change of use Class E to Class C3 (dwellinghouses) without planning permission. In this case, Prior Approval must be sought from the Council before the change of use can lawfully be implemented and this route can be used as part of a wider planning strategy to achieve your objectives, like our recent project at 223 Streatham Road.
There are other permitted development rights allowing other changes of use such as Class H (to allow mixed use) and Class R (which allows the change of use of a building or site from agricultural to Class E).
If you need some assistance with your project, contact Squires Planning for a confidential chat to see how we can help.
