Guide to the Use Classes
Order (England)
pure
town planning
USE CLASS
DESCRIPTION
PERMITTED CHANGE
USE CLASS
DESCRIPTION
PERMITTED CHANGE
USE CLASS
DESCRIPTION
PERMITTED CHANGE
A1
Shops, post offices, travel agencies &
No permitted change*
B1
a)
Offices, other than a use within
B1(a) change to C3
Permitted change to C4
residential**
Professional Services)
Up to 500 sqm
C3
Use as a dwelling (whether or not as a sole
Class A2 (Financial and
Research and development of
permitted change to B8
by:
products or processes
Over 500 sqm no
a)
Light industry
permitted change*
SHOPS
ticket agencies, hairdressers, funeral
directors & undertakers, domestic hire
BUSINESS
shops, dry cleaners, internet cafés,
b)
sandwich bars (where sandwiches or
other cold food are to be consumed off
c)
the premises)
A2
FINANCIAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES
Financial services: banks, building
Permitted change to A1
societies & bureau de change
(where there is a ground
Professional services (other than health
floor display window*
B2
GENERAL
INDUSTRY
General industry: use for the carrying
Up to 500 sqm
out of an industrial process other than
permitted change to B1
one falling in class B1
or B8
change to B1 only
employment agencies
B8
provide in a shopping area: betting
shops (where the services are provided
Use for storage or distribution centre
Up to 500 sqm
including outdoor storage
permitted change to B1
Over 500 sqm no
STORAGE AND
DISTRIBUTION
principally to visiting members of the
permitted change
public)
A3
RESTAURANTS
AND CAFES
Restaurants & cafés (i.e. places where
Permitted change to A1
the primary purpose is the sale and
or A2*
consumption of food and light
refreshment on the premises) - this
excludes internet cafés which are now
A1
C1
PUBS AND BARS
A5
HOT FOOD
TAKEAWAY
C2a
A2 or A3*
hot food to take-away)
C4
Shared dwelling houses occupied by
HOUSES IN
MULTIPLE
OCCUPATION
only or main residence, who share basic
D1
Clinics & health centres, crèches, day
NON-RESIDENTIAL
INSTITUTIONS
SECURE
RESIDENTIAL
INSTITUTIONS
Permitted change to C3
between 3 – 6 unrelated individuals, as their
amenities such as kitchen or bathroom
No permitted change*
nurseries & day centres, museums, public
libraries, art galleries & exhibition halls, law
courts, non-residential education & training
Hospital, nursing home or residential
No permitted change
D2
school, college or training centre
where they provide residential
accommodation and care to people in
C3 dwellings)
where the primary purpose is the sale of
single household
C2
A2 or A3*
Permitted change to A1,
up to six people living together as a
instruction & church halls
drinking establishments (i.e. premises
Hot food take-aways (i.e. premises
single household and receiving care
c)
centres, places of worship, religious
need of care (other than those within
the premises)
up to six people living together as a
element of care is provided
Permitted change to A1,
and consumption of alcoholic drinks on
together as a family, or
HOTELS
Public houses, wine bars or other
where the primary purpose is the sale
No permitted change
a single person or people living
guesthouse, where no significant
RESIDENTIAL
INSTITUTIONS
A4
Use as a hotel, boarding house or
building contains one or multiple dwellings)
b)
Over 500 sqm permitted
or medical services): estate agents &
Other services which it is appropriate to
DWELLINGS
or a main residence and whether or not
ASSEMBLY &
LEISURE
Cinema, concert hall, bingo hall, dance hall,
No permitted change
swimming bath, skating rink, gymnasium, or
area for indoor or outdoor sports or
recreation (not involving motor vehicles or
firearms)
SUI
GENERIS
Uses which do not fall within any use class,
Casinos permitted
including (not exhaustive): theatres,
change to D2
use as a prison, young offenders
nightclubs, casinos, retail warehouse clubs,
Otherwise no permitted
institution, detention centre, secure
amusement arcades, launderettes, larger
change
training centre, custody centre, short
HMOs than C4, petrol filling stations and
term holding centre, secure hospital,
motor car showrooms
Use for a provision of secure
residential accommodation, including
secure local authority accommodation
or use as a military barracks
Please note permitted development rights may not apply in all cases for example due to Article 4 Directions or conditions placed on planning consents. This summary
provides a guide to the Use Classes Order in England and is not a substitute for professional town planning advice. No liability can be accepted for reliance on this guide
alone. Guide is correct as of 30 May 2013. Listed uses are examples only and are not comprehensive. ©Pure Town Planning Limited 2013
No permitted change
* Two year flexible change to A1, A2, A3 or B1 available up to 150 sqm
** Subject to prior notice process, some excluded areas, change must occur before 30 May 2016
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