Planning use classes explained

What planning use classes are

The Use Classes Order divides development into categories based on how buildings and land are used.¹ Each category groups similar uses together. For example, shops, cafes, offices, and gyms are all Class E (commercial, business and service).

The key principle is this: if you change use within the same class, you do not need planning permission. If you change between different classes, you typically do.

Some uses fall outside the Use Classes Order entirely (sui generis). These include takeaways, car showrooms, petrol stations, and scrapyards. Any change involving a sui generis use requires planning permission.

Class E: Commercial, business and service

Class E was introduced in September 2020, merging former Classes A1-A3, B1, and D1 into a single flexible category.² Class E includes:

• Retail (shops, post offices, travel agencies, hairdressers)
• Food and drink (cafes, restaurants, but not takeaways)
• Offices (professional services, financial services, estate agents)
• Medical and health services (clinics, health centres, day nurseries)
• Indoor sport, recreation, or fitness (gyms, swimming pools, dance studios)
• Creches and day centres
• Learning and training (training centres, libraries, museums, galleries)

You can change freely between any uses within Class E without planning permission. A shop can become an office, a gym can become a cafe. This flexibility was designed to help high streets adapt to changing retail patterns.

Converting Class E to residential (Class C3) is permitted development in many cases, subject to prior approval. See our permitted development guide for details.

Residential use classes

Residential uses are split into four classes:

• C1: Hotels and boarding houses. Guest accommodation where no significant element of care is provided.
• C2: Residential institutions. Care homes, hospitals, boarding schools, colleges, training centres where residents depend on care.
• C3: Dwellinghouses. Use as a home by a single household or up to six people living together as a single household.
• C4: Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Small HMOs with 3-6 unrelated residents sharing facilities.

Changing from C3 (single household) to C4 (small HMO) is permitted development unless the property is subject to an Article 4 direction. Many councils restrict HMO conversions in areas with high concentrations of student housing.

Large HMOs (7+ residents) fall outside the Use Classes Order and are sui generis. Converting a C3 or C4 property to a large HMO always requires planning permission.

Industrial and storage uses

Industrial uses are covered by Class B:

• B2: General industrial. Manufacturing, processing, or industrial operations not falling within Class E.
• B8: Storage and distribution. Warehouses, distribution centres, open storage.

Light industrial uses (former Class B1c) were moved into Class E in 2020. You can now convert a light industrial unit to an office or gym without permission.

Changes between B2 and B8 may be permitted development depending on floorspace. Check the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order for current thresholds.

Other common use classes

Less common classes include:

• F1: Learning and non-residential institutions. Schools, libraries, museums, public halls, places of worship (introduced 2020).
• F2: Local community. Shops under 280 sqm selling essential goods, halls for community use, outdoor sport or recreation, indoor/outdoor swimming pools (introduced 2020).

Classes F1 and F2 were created to protect community facilities from conversion to commercial uses. Changing from F1 or F2 to Class E typically requires planning permission.

When change of use needs planning permission

You need planning permission (or prior approval) when:

• Changing from one use class to a different use class (unless permitted development applies)
• Changing to or from a sui generis use
• Intensifying use within the same class in a way that creates a material change (e.g., extending opening hours significantly, increasing traffic)
• An Article 4 direction removes permitted development rights

For full guidance on when change of use requires permission, see our change of use planning permission guide.

How to check a property's use class

You can check a property's use class by:

• Searching planning history on your council's planning portal (look for the original planning permission or certificate of lawfulness)
• Checking business rates records (the Valuation Office assigns a use class for rating purposes)
• Asking the council's planning department for a formal determination

If the use class is unclear or disputed, you can apply for a certificate of lawfulness to establish the lawful use.