Planning Permission and Use Classes for selling

Planning Permission and Use Classes for Selling

Planning permission and use classes can shape your sale options. Let’s break down how these factors affect your sale and what buyers need to know.

Use Classes and Planning Permission for Selling an Investment Property

In the UK, investment properties are governed by The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (updated in 2020). These rules categorize the use of business premises and land. Here’s the updated list of use classes as of 2025:

Class E (Commercial, Business, and Service): Shops, offices, restaurants, gyms, medical services (replaces former A1-A3, B1, parts of D1/D2).
Class F1 (Learning and Non-Residential Institutions): Schools, libraries, museums, places of worship (formerly D1).
Class F2 (Local Community): Small local shops, community halls, outdoor sports facilities (formerly parts of A1 and D2).
Class B2 (General Industrial): Industrial processes not covered by Class E.
Class B8 (Storage or Distribution): Warehouses and distribution centres.
Class C1 (Hotels): Hotels and guest houses.
Class C2 (Residential Institutions): Care homes, hospitals, boarding schools.
Class C2A (Secure Residential Institutions): Prisons, secure hospitals.
Class C3 (Dwelling Houses): Residential homes, including single households or small groups.
Class C4 (Houses in Multiple Occupation): Shared houses with 3–6 unrelated residents.
Sui Generis: Unique uses like theatres, nightclubs, petrol stations, betting shops.

Permitted Changes Without Planning Permission

Some changes don’t need planning permission, subject to conditions like prior approval:

✔️ Class E: Switch between uses within Class E (e.g., shop to office) without permission.
✔️ Class E to C3 (Dwelling Houses): Subject to prior approval.
✔️ Sui Generis (e.g., Betting Shops): Can change to Class E uses like shops or offices, subject to prior approval.
✔️ Small Agricultural Premises: Can convert to Class E uses or C3, subject to prior approval.

Source: Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence (updated 08 February 2017).
This list isn’t exhaustive—do your research and seek professional advice to confirm the intended use.

What Each Use Class Covers

Class E: Shops, offices, cafes, restaurants, gyms, clinics.
Class F1: Schools, libraries, places of worship.
Class F2: Small local shops, community halls.
Class B2: Industrial processes (e.g., manufacturing).
Class B8: Storage and distribution, including open-air storage.
Class C1: Hotels, boarding houses.
Class C2: Care homes, hospitals.
Class C3: Single-family homes or small shared households.
Class C4: Houses in multiple occupation (3–6 residents).
Sui Generis: Theatres, nightclubs, petrol stations, betting shops.

Planning Permission Considerations

Be Clear in the HOTS: State whether the property has planning permission for the buyer’s intended use. If not, and the use class can’t be changed within permitted rules, the buyer will need to apply for planning permission (this takes at least 8 weeks ⏳).
Save Time and Money: Providing existing planning permission details makes your property more attractive.
Complex Process: Planning often requires specialists like architects, structural engineers, and planning consultants, especially for major changes.
Contact Your Local Authority: They can guide you, though they may be hard to reach. Find their details online.

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Disclaimer

The Content above is for guidance purpose only. While we make every effort to keep the information current and correct, we do not make representations of any kind. Professional advice should be sought, before entering into any legal contract and purchasing a property.