Councillors on Medway Council: Planning Information

Planning: Use Classes

Guide to Use Classes Order: Nov 1998, and Permitted Changes of Use (England & Wales)

In planning matters you might read or hear of, say, "Class B2" or perhaps just "C3". This jargon comes up at the Area Development Control Committees' planning meetings and is often mentioned in the reports presented to those committees. These are merely codes to describe the type of current or intended use of a property or some land, and there are rules about what is allowed to be put where.

This guide outlines the most recent set of Use Classes, as they are known, along with some notes and other guidance about what is permitted, especially when a change of use (see Note 1 and Note 2) is being proposed.

Classes A

Use Class A1: Shops — No permitted change (see Note 3)

Use Class A2: Financial and Professional Services — Permitted change to A1 (but see Note 12) Use Class A3: Food and Drink — Permitted change to A1 or A2 Sui Generis (see Note 4)

Classes B

Use Class B1: Business (see Note 5) — Permitted change to B8 (where no more than 235 metres)

Use Class B2: General Industrial (see Note 6) Use Class B8: Storage or Distribution — Permitted change to B1 (where no more than 235 metres) Sui Generis (see Note 4)

Classes C

Use Class C1: Hôtels (see Note 7) — No permitted change

Use Class C2: Residential Institutions — No permitted change Use Class C3: Dwelling Houses (see Note 8) — No permitted change Sui Generis (see Note 4) — No permitted change

Classes D

Use Class D1: Non-residential Institutions — No permitted change

Use Class D2: Assembly and Leisure — No permitted change Sui Generis (see Note 4)

Notes (notes 2 and 3 are at present incomplete, awaiting the full text)

  1. Changes of use within a specific class do not require planning permission provided that the use subsists, the planning permission has been implemented and no restrictive condition is attached to the consent.
  2. The permitted development rights shown above do not require planning permission where all criteria set out in the Order are met ?? conditions apply.
  3. The General Permitted Development Order 1995 provides for the permitted change of use of a building from Class A1 or Class A2 to ??.
  4. Sui Generis is a term which refers to a use on its own. Any planning use not falling within a specific class within the Use Classes Order falls within this category.
  5. A B1 use must be capable of being undertaken 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.
  6. The Use Classes Amendment Order 1995 amends the 1987 order by omitting Classes B4–B7 (special industrial groups B–E). Industrial processes previously within these classes now fall within Class B2 (general industrial).
  7. A C1 use is defined as a hôtel or a boarding or guest house where, in each case, no significant element of care is provided.
  8. Six or less residents unless living together as a family.
  9. It should be noted that permitted changes of use identified above are ratchet changes, i.e. cannot be made in reverse.
  10. Various other permitted development rights exist for, inter alia, industrial and warehouse buildings, dwelling houses, agricultural buildings, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and development by statutory undertakers.
  11. The above is intended as a general guide only. Reference must be made in the final instance to the Town & County Planning Act 1990 as amended, andThe General Permitted Development Order 1995.
  12. This change is permitted where a ground floor display window exists (see also Note 3)