Use classes

Use Classes describe the use of each property according to:

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987
The Department of the Environment Circular 13/87, Changes of Use of Buildings and Other Land: The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987
The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) Order 1991.

The uses are banded into specific classes for planning and usage purposes. Planning permission is required to change between use classes eg from B1 Business to D1 non-residential institutions. (Changes between some use classes will be allowed without planning permission eg B2 general industrial to B8 storage & distribution.)

Use classes order table:

Use classes Order 2006	Use/Description of Development	Permitted Change
A1 Shops	Shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post offices, pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops and funeral directors	Change not permitted
A2 Financial and professional services	Banks, building societies, estate and employment agencies, professional and financial services and betting offices	A1 (Ground Floor display window)
A3 Restaurants and caf�s	For the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises - restaurants, snack bars and cafes.	A1 or A2
A4 Drinking establishments	Public houses, wine bars or other drinking establishments (but not nightclubs).	A1, A2 or A3
A5 Hot food takeaways	For the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises	A1, A2 or A3

Use classes Order 2006	Use/Description of Development	Permitted Change
B1 Business	Offices, research and development, light industry appropriate in a residential area.	B8 (However size must not exceed 235 sq.m/2350 sq ft.)
B2 General industrial	General Industry: Use for the carrying out of an industrial process other than one falling in class B1.	B1 or B8 (B8 limited to 235 sq. m/ 2350 sq ft.)
B3-B7 Special Industrial Groups
B8 Storage or distribution	This class includes open air storage	B1 (where no more than 235 sq. m/2350 sq ft)

Use classes Order 2006	Use/Description of Development	Permitted Change
C1 Hotels	Hotels, boarding and guest houses where no significant element of care is provided	Change not permitted
C2 Residential institutions	Residential care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools, residential colleges and training centres.	Change not permitted
C2A Secure Residential Institution	Use for a provision of secure residential accommodation, including use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or use as a military barracks.	Change not permitted
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.	Change not permitted

Use classes Order 2006	Use/Description of Development	Permitted Change
D1 Non-residential institutions	Clinics, health centres, cr�ches, day nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries, museums, libraries, halls, places of worship, church halls, law court. Non residential education and training centres.	Change not permitted
D2 Assembly and leisure	Cinemas, music and concert halls, bingo and dance halls (but not nightclubs), swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or sports arenas (except for motor sports, or where firearms are used).	Change not permitted
Sui Generis (of its own kind)	Theatres, houses in multiple paying occupations, hostels providing no significant element of care, scrap yards. Petrol filling stations and shops selling and/or displaying motor vehicles. Retail warehouse clubs, nightclubs, launderettes, dry cleaners, taxi businesses, amusement centres.	Change not permitted
	Casinos	D2

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. PRP does not accept liability for this information or for any errors or omissions.