All buildings or land are associated with specific Use Classes under the Town and Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. This means that when you want to change the use of a building and you need to change classes in the process, you might need planning permission. There are however exceptions where changes between uses are allowed without the need for planning permission. This is part of permitted development.
This table gives an overview of the various Use Classes that the Local Planning Authority will associate a building/business with:
| Part A | Part B | Part C | Part D | Sui Generis |
| A1 – Shops | B1 – Business | C1 – Hotels | D1 – Non-residential institutions | When uses cannot be associated with any of the standard classes.
Examples: Nightclubs, casinos, betting shops, theatres, taxi businesses. |
| A2 – Financial and professional services | B2 – General industrial | C2 – Residential institutions | D2 – Assembly and leisure | |
| A3 – Restaurants and cafés | B8 – Storage or distribution | C2A – Secure Residential Institution | ||
| A4 – Drinking establishments | C3 – Dwellinghouses (3 subdivisions) | |||
| A5 – Hot food takeaways | C4 – Houses in multiple occupation |
The table below shows changes of use between classes without the need for planning permission. The developer might still need to obtain other types of permissions before proceeding with works, so it’s best to check with the Local Planning Authority of what might be required.
| Existing Use Class (from) | New Use Class (to) |
| A1 (shops) |
|
| A2 (professional and financial services) when premises have a display window at ground level, but excluding betting offices or pay day loan shops |
|
| A3 (restaurants and cafes) | A1 or A2 |
| A4 (drinking establishments) | A4 drinking establishment with A3 (restaurants and cafes) |
| A5 (hot food takeaways) | A1 or A2 or A3 |
| A4 drinking establishment with A3 (restaurants and cafes) | A4 (drinking establishments) |
| B1 (business) | Up to 500m2 B8 |
| B2 (general industrial) | B1 |
| B2 (general industrial) | Up to 500m2 B8 |
| B8 (storage and distribution) | Up to 500m2 B1 C3 (subject to prior approval) |
| C3 (dwellinghouses) | C4 (small houses in multiple occupation) |
| C4 (small houses in multiple occupation) | C3 (dwellinghouses) |
| Sui Generis (casinos) |
|
| Sui Generis (betting offices and pay day loan shops) |
|
| Sui Generis (agricultural buildings) | A1, A2, A3, B1, B8, C1, C3, D2, all subject to meeting relevant criteria and Prior Approval |
Source: Planning Portal
