Guide to Use Classes Order
Use classes define various categories of property, the list below outlines the main use classes.
A1 Shops including retail-warehouse, undertakers, showrooms, post offices, hairdressers, shops for the sale of cold food for consumption off premises, pet shops, domestic hire shops, internet cafes.
A2 Financial and Professional Services. Banks, building societies, estate and employment agencies, betting offices and other services appropriate to a shopping area.
A3 Restaurants, cafes and snack bars.
A4 Drinking establishments where the primary purpose is the sale and consumption of alcoholic drink.
A5 Hot food takeaways.
B1 Business Offices not within Use Class A2, research and development, light industry etc. Subject to the test that all aspects of the use must be capable of being “carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit”.
B2 General and special Industry.
B8 Storage or Distribution and wholesale warehouses.
C1 Hotels, boarding houses and guest houses.
C2 Residential institutions, residential schools and colleges, hospitals and nursing homes.
C3 Dwelling houses occupied by single persons or families, occupied by not more than 6 Residents as a single household.
D1 Non-residential institutions. Religious buildings, medical services, public buildings and education.
D2 Assembly and Leisure. Cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls, casinos, sports and leisure uses and outdoor sports not involving motor sport or fire arms.
General Permitted Development
Change of use within a particular category does not normally require planning permission and planning permission may not be needed for closely related changes including: A3 to A2 or A1, A2 to A1, A4 to A1 or A2 or A3, A5 to A1 or A2 or A3, B2 to B1 (no size limit), B2 to B8 (subject to a limitation on size), B8 to B1 and B1 to B8 (subject to a limitation on size).
Important Note
This is a guide only, please refer to the Use Classes Order 1987 (as ammended 2005) for the full text and take professional advice before taking any action based on the information contained in this website.
