Not all changes of use require planning permission — but the rules are complex. Here's a clear breakdown.
The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order groups buildings and land into use classes based on their function. Class E covers commercial, business, and service uses (shops, offices, gyms, cafes). Class C covers residential. Class B covers industrial and storage. Moving between uses within the same class generally doesn't require permission.
Several changes of use can be made under permitted development — without a full planning application. Most significantly, many Class E commercial uses (including offices and retail) can be converted to residential (Class C3) under Prior Approval, provided certain criteria are met. This has been a significant driver of office-to-flat conversions.
Moving from residential (C3) to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO, use class C4) in some local authority areas requires permission. Changing from any use to a pub (Sui Generis) requires permission. Any change of use that requires operational development (building works) beyond what permitted development allows will need permission for those works too.
Prior Approval is a lighter-touch process than full planning permission. The council can only consider specific issues (typically transport, contamination, flood risk, and design for residential conversions) — not the principle of the change of use itself. It's faster and cheaper, but only available for specific change of use routes.
Considering a change of use application, or navigating one that's been refused? A Site Intelligence Report maps comparable change-of-use decisions at nearby properties, committee minutes and enforcement history — so you know what this council has approved before. Delivered in 48 hours.
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