Change of Use (Planning)

Page updated on: 15/03/2024

Guide to Use Classes Order

The Use Class Order relates to the town and country planning process, grouping property and land into different classes according to function.

How do I find out the use class of a property?

The current use of the property cannot always be relied on. It will need to be established whether the current use has the required permissions in place. You can use our “Search for a Planning Application” webpage to see whether planning permission has historically been given to the property and the use involved. If you are not sure, then it is advised that you submit a Certificate of Lawfulness application, providing as much information as possible regarding the use of the property both currently and historically.

Do I need Planning?

Is the property in question in Carmarthen or Ammanford Town Centre? If so we request that apply for permission under the Local Development Order.

For all other areas:

A change of use within the same class does not constitute development and therefore does not require planning permission [see use class table]. However, please be mindful that conditions may have been imposed on some properties when previously granting permission to restrict changes of use within the same category. Please double check any planning permission for the property in question before changing its use.  

Not everything is covered by the Use Class Order, with some notable exceptions being theatres, scrap yards, petrol stations and nightclubs. Businesses which sit outside the system are known as ‘Unique Use’, Latin for ‘of its own kind’. These may require planning permission for change of use, there we request that you submit a certificate of lawfulness  in the first instance. This will allow us to ascertain whether a planning application is required for the necessary permission.

If I need to submit a planning application for a change of use class, how is this considered?

If a planning application is required, we will consider any change of use on the basis of providing a suitable balance between residential areas and those already used for business purposes. Business development in residential areas will be assessed to ensure that it will not create a detrimental effect upon the local community.

For example, a business operating late at night, such as a nightclub, may be deemed unsuitable for a residential area due to potential noise disturbances; and an industrial unit within a residential area may be refused permission due to the risk of heavy machinery and traffic using small residential streets.

 

This table will allow you to view what is permitted development within the use class, this does not require a planning application for the change.

If the change you wish to make is not listed as permitted development, we would request that you submit a full planning application.


Use Class Description Permitted Change
Class A1 - Shops Use for all or any of the following purposes: (a) as a shop, (b) as a retail warehouse, (c) as a post office, (d) for the sale of tickets or as a travel agency, (e) for the sale of sandwiches or other cold food for consumption off premises, (f) for hairdressing, (g) for the direction of funerals, (h) for the hiring out of domestic or personal goods, (i) for dry cleaning and for the washing or cleaning of clothes or fabrics (but not a laundrette) Permitted change to a mixed use for any purpose within Class A1 and as a single flat
Class A2 – Financial and professional services Use for the provision of: (a) as a bank, (b) for building societies, (c) for estate agencies, (d) for employment agencies, (e) professional and financial services (other than health or medical services) Permitted change to Class A1 where there is a display window at ground floor level Permitted change to a mixed use for any purpose within Class A2 and as a single flat Permitted change to a Class A1 shop and as a single flat where there is a display at ground floor level
Class A3 – Food and Drink Use for the following: (a) as a restaurant, (b) as a cafes, (c) for hot food takeaways, (d) as a pub, bar or other drinking establishment Permitted change to Class A1 Permitted change to Class A2
Class B1 – Business Use for all or any of the following purposes: (a) Office other than a use within Class A2, (b) Research and development of products or processes, (c) For any industrial process which can be carried out in any residential area without causing detriment to the amenity of the area Permitted change to Class B8 subject to total floorspace being no greater than 500sqm of floorspace in the building
Class B2 – General industrial Use for the carrying on of an industrial process other than one falling within Class B1 Permitted change to Class B1 Permitted change to Class B8 Permitted change to Class B8 is subject to total floorspace being no greater than 500sqm of floorspace in the building
Class B8 – Storage or distribution Use for storage or as a distribution centre (building or land) Permitted change to Class B1 subject to total floorspace being no greater than 500sqm of floorspace in the building
Class C1 – Hotels Use as a hotel or as a boarding or guest house where, in each case, no significant element of care is provided No permitted change
Class C2 – Residential institutions Use for the provision of residential accommodation and care to people in need of care Use as a hospital or nursing home Use as a residential school, college or training centre No permitted change

Class C2A – Secure residential institutions

 Use for the provision of secure residential accommodation, including use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or use as military barracks No permitted change

Class C3 – Dwellinghouses, used as sole or main residences

 Use as a dwellinghouse, as a sole or main residence and occupied for more than 183 days in a calendar year by – (a) a single person or by people to be regarded as forming a single household, (b) not more than six residents living together as a single household where care is provided for residents, (c) not more than six residents living together as a single household where no care is provided to residents (other than a use within Class C4) Permitted changes to Class C5 Permitted change to Class C6 Permitted change to a mixed use combining use as a dwellinghouse within Class C3 with a use falling within Class C6 between the new use classes, C3, C5 and C6 Permitted change to a mixed use combining use as a dwellinghouse within Class C5 with a use falling within Class C6 Development is not permitted if it would result in the use as two or more separate dwellinghouses falling within Class C3, Class C5 or Class C6 of any building previously used as a single dwellinghouse

Class C4 – House in multiple occupation

 Use of a dwellinghouse by not more than six residents as a “house in multiple occupation” (HMO). Large HMOs (of more than six people) are unclassified and therefore "Unique Use" Permitted change to Class C3

Class C5 – Dwellinghouses, used otherwise than as sole or main residences

 Use as a dwellinghouse, otherwise than a sole or main residence and occupied for 183 days or fewer by – (a) a single person or by people to be regarded as forming a single household, (b) not more than six residents living together as a single household where care is provided for residents , or (c) not more than six residents living together as a single household where no care is provided to residents (other than a use within class C4) Permitted change to Class C3 Permitted change to Class C6 Permitted change to a mixed use combining use as a dwellinghouse within Class C5 with a use falling within Class C6 Permitted change to a mixed use combining use as a dwellinghouse within Class C3 with a use falling withing Class C6 Development is not permitted if it would result in the use as two or more separate dwellinghouses falling within Class C3, Class C5 or Class C6 of any building previously used as a single dwellinghouse

Class C6 – Short-term lets

 Use of a dwellinghouse for commercial short-term letting not longer than 31 days for each period of occupation Permitted change to Class C3 Permitted change to Class C5 Permitted change to a mixed used combining use as a dwellinghouse within Class C3 with a use falling within Class C6 Permitted change to a mixed used combining use as a dwellinghouse within Class C5 with a use falling within Class C6 Development is not permitted if it would result in the use as two or more separate dwellinghouses falling within Class C3, Class C5 or Class C6 of any building previously used as a single dwellinghouse

Class D1 – Non-residential institutions

 Any use not including a residential use: (a) for the provision of any medical or health services except the use of premises attached to the residence of the consultant or practitioner, (b) as a crêche, day nursery or day centre, (c) for the provision of education, (d) for the display of works of art (otherwise than for sale or hire), (e) as a museum, (f) as a public library or public reading room, (g) as a public hall or exhibition hall, (h) for, or in connection with, public worship or religious instruction, (i) as a law court No permitted change

Class D2 – Assembly and leisure

 Use as: (a) a cinema, (b) a concert halls (c) a bingo hall (d) a casino, (e) a dance hall, (f) a swimming bath, skating rink, gymnasium or other indoor and outdoor sports or recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms No permitted change

'Unique Use' – No class specified

 Includes: (a) Includes large houses in multiple occupation (HMO) (more than six people sharing), (b) as a theatre, (c) as an amusement arcades or funfair, (d) as a launderette, (e) for the sale of fuel for motor vehicles, (f) for the sale or display for sale of motor vehicles, (g) for a taxi or vehicle hire business, (h) as a hostel, (i) as a scrap yard, (j) for any work registerable under the alkali, etc. Works Regulation Act 1906, as a waste disposal installation, (k) as a betting office

No permitted change, except – (a) motor vehicle sales to Class A1. (b) Permitted changes of use from use as a betting office to Class A1, mixed use for any purpose within Class A1 and as a single flat, Class A2; and mixed use for any purpose within Class A2 and as a single flat (c) Permitted changes of use from mixed use as a betting office and as a single flat to Class A1, mixed use for any purpose within Class A1 and as a single flat, Class A2, mixed use for any purpose within Class A2 and as a single flat; and use as a betting office

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