In many cases involving similar types of use, a change of use of a building or land does not need planning permission. Planning permission is not needed when both the present and proposed uses fall within the same ‘class’, or if the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order says that a change of class is permitted to another specified class (see table below and associated text under ‘Additional change of use permitted development rights applying from 30 May 2013’).
For example, a greengrocer’s shop could be changed to a shoe shop without permission as these uses fall within the same ‘class’, and a restaurant could be changed to a shop or a estate agency as the Use Class Order allows this type of change to occur without requiring planning permission.
Most external building work associated with a change of use is likely to require planning permission.
Additionally, a planning application is not required for change of use in the following circumstances:
- from A1 or A2 to A1 plus up to two flats above;
- from A2 to A2 plus up to two flats above.
These changes are reversible without an application only if the part that is now a flat was, respectively, in either A1 or A2 use immediately before it became a flat.
The above information is only provided as a guide and we advise that you obtain your own specialist advice at all times.