All you need to know about
Following the introduction of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020, our updated two-page guide to the Use Classes Order in England brings together all of the latest changes.
This is intended as an initial reference guide only. Reference must be made to the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) and the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) for limitations (e.g. floorspace maxima), restrictions, conditions and details of any requirements for any application for determination as to whether the prior approval of the local planning authority will be required (which may include the prior approval of building operations).
There have been numerous amendments to these Orders and reference to consolidated versions is recommended.
| Use Class from 1 September 2020 | Use Class until 31 August 2020 and for the purpose of interpreting permitted development rights to 31 July 2021 | Permitted change until at least 31 July 2021 |
|---|---|---|
Class B2General industry |
B2 – General industry Industrial process other than that falling within Class B1 |
Permitted change to B1 and B8 |
Class B8Storage and distribution |
B8 – Storage and distribution Use for storage or as a distribution centre |
Permitted change to B1 |
| Use Class from 1 September 2020 | Use Class until 31 August 2020 and for the purpose of interpreting permitted development rights to 31 July 2021 | Permitted change until at least 31 July 2021 |
|---|---|---|
Class C1Hotels |
C1 – Hotels Hotels, boarding and guest houses (where no significant element of care is provided) |
Permitted change to state-funded school or registered nursery (and back to previous lawful use) (subject to prior approval) |
Class C2Residential institutions |
C2 – Residential institutions Residential accommodation and care to people in need of care, residential schools, colleges or training centres, hospitals, nursing homes |
Permitted change to state-funded school or registered nursery (and back to previous lawful use) (subject to prior approval) |
Class C2aSecure residential institutions |
C2a – Secure residential institutions Prisons, young offenders’ institutions, detention centres, secure training centres etc. |
Permitted change to state-funded school or registered nursery (and back to previous lawful use) (subject to prior approval) |
Class C3Dwelling-houses |
C3 – Dwelling-houses Uses as a dwellinghouse (whether or not as main residence) by: A single person or by people to be regarded as forming a single household Not more than 6 residents |
Permitted change to C4 |
Class C4Houses in multiple occupation |
C4 – Houses in multiple occupation | Permitted change to C3 |
| Use Class from 1 September 2020 | Use Class until 31 August 2020 and for the purpose of interpreting permitted development rights to 31 July 2021 | Permitted change until at least 31 July 2021 |
|---|---|---|
Class ECommercial, Business and Service |
A1 – Shops (part) Shops, retail warehouses, post offices, ticket and travel agencies, sale of cold food for consumption off premises, hairdressers, funeral directors, hire shops, dry cleaners, internet cafes |
Temporary permitted change (3 years) to a flexible use falling within A2, A3, B1 (e.g. where a condition prevents operation of the UCO), public library, gallery, exhibition hall, museum, clinic or health centre (interchangeable with notification) see also 2019 Order
Permitted change of A1 or mixed A1 and dwellinghouse to C3 (subject to prior approval) (see also 2018 Order and 2020 Order) Permitted change to D2 (subject to prior approval) Permitted change from A1 to mixed use (A1 or A2 & up to 2 flats); and from mixed use (A1 & up to 2 flats) to A1 or A2 |
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A2 – Financial and professional services (Banks, building societies, estate and employment agencies, professional services (not health or medical services)) |
Temporary permitted change (3 years) to a flexible use falling within A1, A3, B1 (e.g. where a condition prevents operation of the UCO), public library, gallery, exhibition hall, museum, clinic or health centre (interchangeable with notification) see also 2019 Order
Permitted change of A2 or mixed A2 and dwellinghouse to C3 (subject to prior approval) (see also 2018 Order and 2020 Order) Permitted change to D2 (subject to prior approval) Permitted change from A2 to mixed use (A1 or A2 & up to 2 flats); and from mixed use (A1 & up to 2 flats) to A1 or A2 |
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A3 – Food and drink Restaurants and cafes |
Temporary permitted change (3 years) to a flexible use falling within A1, A2, B1 (e.g. where a condition prevents operation of the UCO), public library, gallery, exhibition hall, museum, clinic or health centre (interchangeable with notification) see also 2019 Order | |
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B1 – Business a. Office other than a use within Class A2 b. Research and development of products or processes c. For any industrial process (which can be carried out in any residential area without causing detriment to the amenity of the area) |
Permitted change to B8
B1(a) office permitted change to C3, see also 2020 Order Temporary permitted change (3 years) to a flexible use falling within A1, A2, A3 (e.g. where a condition prevents operation of the UCO), public library, gallery, exhibition hall, museum, clinic or health centre (interchangeable with notification) see also 2019 Order |
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D1 – Non-residential institutions (part) Clinics, health centres, creches, day nurseries, day centre |
Temporary permitted change (3 years) to a flexible use falling within A1, A2, A3, B1 (interchangeable with notification) see also 2019 Order | |
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D2 – Assembly and leisure (part) Gymnasiums, indoor recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms |
Permitted change to state-funded school or registered nursery (and back to previous lawful use) (subject to prior approval)
Temporary permitted change (3 years) to a flexible use falling within A1, A2, A3, B1 public library, gallery, exhibition hall, museum, clinic or health centre (interchangeable with notification) see also 2019 Order |
| Use Class from 1 September 2020 | Use Class until 31 August 2020 and for the purpose of interpreting permitted development rights to 31 July 2021 | Permitted change until at least 31 July 2021 |
|---|---|---|
Class F1Learning and non-residential institutions |
D1 – Non-residential institutions (part) Schools, non-residential education and training centres, museums, public libraries, public halls, exhibition halls, places of worship, law court |
See Class D1 permitted development rights above |
Class F2Local community uses |
D2 – Assembly and leisure (part) Indoor or outdoor swimming baths, skating rinks, and outdoor sports or recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms |
See Class D2 permitted development rights above |
| A1 – Shops (part) | See Class A1 permitted development rights above |
| Use Class from 1 September 2020 | Use Class until 31 August 2020 and for the purpose of interpreting permitted development rights to 31 July 2021 | Permitted change until at least 31 July 2021 |
|---|---|---|
Sui generisUses which do not fall within the specified use classes above Includes theatres, large HMO (more than 6 people sharing), hostels, petrol filling stations, shops selling and/or displaying motor vehicles, scrap yards, retail warehouse clubs, nightclubs, launderettes, taxi or vehicle hire businesses, amusement centres, casinos, funfairs, waste disposal installations, betting offices, payday loan shops, pubs or drinking establishments, drinking establishments with expanded food provision, hot food takeaways, venues for live music performance, cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls, dance halls. |
A4 – Pub or drinking establishment | Permitted change to or from a use falling “within Class A4 with a use falling within Class A3” (“drinking establishments with expanded food provision”) |
| A5 – Hot food takeaway |
Permitted change to A1, A2 or A3
Temporary permitted change (3 years) to a flexible use falling within A1, A2, A3, B1, public library, gallery, exhibition hall, museum, clinic or health centre (interchangeable with notification) see also 2019 Order Permitted change to B1(a) offices (subject to prior approval) Permitted change to C3 (subject to prior approval) see also 2020 Order |
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D2 – Assembly and leisure (part) Cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls and dance halls |
See Class D2 permitted development rights above | |
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Sui Generis Includes theatres, large HMO (more than 6 people sharing), hostels, petrol filling stations, shops selling and/or displaying motor vehicles, scrap yards, retail warehouse clubs, nightclubs, launderettes, taxi or vehicle hire businesses, amusement centres, casinos, funfairs, waste disposal installations, betting offices, payday loan shops |
Casino to A3 (subject to prior approval)
Amusement centre or casino to C3 (subject to prior approval) see also 2020 Order Betting office or payday loan shop to A1, A2, A3, D2 (subject to prior approval) Betting office, payday loan shop or launderette to B1(a) offices (subject to prior approval) Betting office, payday loan shop or launderette to C3 (subject to prior approval) see also 2020 Order Mixed use betting office, payday loan shop or launderette and dwellinghouse to C3 (subject to prior approval) see also 2020 Order Temporary permitted change (3 years) from betting office or payday loan shop to A1, A2, A3, B1, public library, exhibition hall, museum, clinic or health centre (interchangeable with notification) |
| Additional changes of use | |
|---|---|
| Agriculture buildings |
Permitted change to C3 (subject to prior approval) (the provisions of the 2015 Order must be read with the provisions of the 2018 Amendment Order and 2019 Amendment Regulations); see also 2020 Order
Permitted change to state-funded school or registered nursery (subject to prior approval) |
| Temporary change of use |
Any building in any Use Class and any land within its curtilage, except Class A4 or Class AA use (“drinking establishments with expanded food provision”), can be used as a state-funded school for up to 2 academic years (with limitations and conditions).
Certain vacant commercial land (with all buildings demolished) may be developed to provide temporary school buildings, and the land used as a state-funded school for up to 3 academic years, subject to prior approval, and with limitations and conditions, including that the building must be removed at the end of the third academic year. |
| Where planning application made after 5 December 1988, permitted development rights allow the use to be changed to another use granted permission at the same time for a period of ten years from the date of planning permission, unless consisting of a change of use to a betting office or payday loan shop: GPDO (2015) Schedule 2 Part 3 Class V. | |
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