Every property in the UK is assigned a specific ‘Use Class’ category which defines what activities a residential or commercial property may be used for by its lawful occupants. The system, first introduced in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) 1987, allows local planning authorities to determine which particular ‘Use Class’ a property may fall under dependent on the individual circumstances.

The Property Use Classes were updated in September 2020 to enable businesses to change ‘Use Class’ with greater ease. An important update when companies need to be flexible to adapt to swiftly changing environments.

The below is a guide to explain the Use Classes of all commercial property in England.

Use Classes: A

A significant reform of the Use Class order came into effect on 21st April 2021.

Use Class E of the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) covers the former use classes of A1 (Shops), A2 (Financial and Professional), A3 (Restaurants and Cafes) as well as parts of D1 (Non-residential institutions) and D2 (assembly and leisure) and them all into one new use class: E class.

Use Classes: B

Class B2 | General Industrial – For industrial process.

Permitted Changes
Former Class B1*

Class B8 | Storage and Distribution – Distribution Centres, Repositories and Wholesale Warehouses. This includes open air storage.

Permitted Changes
Former Class B1*, temporary permitted change (2 years) to a state funded school.

 

Use Classes: C

Class C1 | Hotel – Hotels, Boarding and Guest Houses where no significant element of care is provided. Includes Hostels.

Permitted Changes
Former Class B1*, temporary permitted change (2 years) to a state funded school

 

Class C2 | Residential Institutions – Residential accommodation and care to people in need of care, residential schools, colleges/training centres, hospitals, nursing homes.

Permitted Changes
Permitted change to state-funded school or nursery back to previous lawful use^

Class C2A | Secure Residential Institutions – For the provision of secure residential accommodation (including prisons, young offenders institutions, detention centres, secure training centres, custody centres, short term holding centres, secure hospitals, secure local authority accommodation or military barracks).

Permitted Changes
Permitted change to state-funded school or nursery and back to previous lawful use^

Class C3 | Dwelling Houses – For use as a dwelling house (whether or not as a sole or main residence).

• C3 (a) covers use by a single person or family
• C3 (b) up to six people living together as a single household and receiving care
• C3 (c) allows for groups of people (up to six) living together as a single household.

Permitted Changes
C4.

Class C4 | Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) – Small shared houses occupied by three and six unrelated individuals, as their only main residence, who share basic amenities such as kitchen or bathroom.

Permitted Changes
C3.

Use Classes: D

A significant reform of the Use Class order came into force on 21 April 2021.

 

Use Class E of the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) covers the former use classes of A1 (Shops), A2 (Financial and Professional), A3 (Restaurants and Cafes) as well as parts of D1 (Non-residential institutions) and D2 (assembly and leisure) and them all into one new use class: E class.

Use Classes: E

Commercial, Business and Services

Use, or part use, for all or any of the following purposes

A: for the display or retail sale of goods, other than hot food, principally to visiting members of the public,

B: for the sale of food and drink principally to visiting members of the public where consumption of that food and drink is mostly undertaken on the premises,

C: for the provision of the following kinds of services principally to visiting members of the public:

i: financial services,

ii : professional services (other than health or medical services), or

D: for indoor sport, recreation or fitness, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms, principally to visiting members of the public,

E:for the provision of medical or health services, principally to visiting members of the public, except the use of premises attached to the residence of the consultant or practitioner,

F: for a crèche, day nursery or day centre, not including a residential use, principally to visiting members of the public,

G:

i:  an office to carry out any operational or administrative functions,

ii:  the research and development of products or processes, or

iii: any industrial process, being a use, which can be carried out 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

Permitted Changes
Class E to Class C3 (subject to total floorspace of the existing building being no greater than 1,500sqm).*
Class E to use as a state-funded school falling within Class F.1(a) and back to previous lawful use.*

 

Use Classes: F.1

Learning and non-residential institutions

Any use not including residential use for

A: for the provision of education,

B: for the display of works of art (otherwise than for sale or hire),

C:  as a museum,

D:  as a public library or public reading room,

E:  as a public hall or exhibition hall,

F:  for, or in connection with, public worship or religious instruction,

G:  as a law court

Permitted Changes
None currently applicable.

Use Classes: F.2

Local community
Use for

A: A shop mostly selling essential goods, including food, to visiting members of the public in circumstances where:

i)  the shop’s premises cover an area not more than 280 metres square, and
ii) there is no other such facility within 1000 metre radius of the shop’s location,

B:  A hall or meeting place for the principal use of the local community,

C:  An area or place for outdoor sport or recreation, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms,

D:  An indoor or outdoor swimming pool or skating rink

Permitted Changes
None currently applicable.

 

Sui Generis

‘Sui Generis’ is a Latin phrase translated as ‘of its own kind’ and covers uses that do not fall into any particular Use Classes above. These properties include Theatres, Amusement Arcades or Funfairs, Launderette, Petrol Stations, Vehicle Dealerships, Taxi businesses, Waste Disposal Installations, Hostels, Retail Warehouse Club, Public Houses, Wine Bars, Nightclubs, Cinemas, Concert Halls, Bingo and Dance Halls, Swimming Baths, Skating Rinks, Casino, Betting Office or Pay day loan shop.

 

Sui Generis | Drinking Establishments

Use for
Public houses, wine bars/other drinking establishments, and nightclubs.

 

Sui Generis | Hot Food Takeaway

For the sale of hot food consumption of the premises.

Permitted Changes
Class E.

Sui Generis | Assembly & Leisure

Use for
Cinema, Music, Concert Halls, Bingo and Dance Halls (excluding Night Clubs), Swimming Baths and Skating Rinks.

Sui Generis | Casinos & Amusement Arcades

Use for
Amusement Arcades, Casinos

Permitted Changes
C3 (subject to total floorspace being no greater than 150sq m of floorspace in the building)*

Class 3 – Casino

 

Sui Generis |Betting Offices & Pay Day Loan Shops

Use for
Betting Offices & Pay Day Loan Shops. 

Permitted Changes
Class E, former Class B1(A) subject to total floorspace being no greater than 500 sqm of floorspace in the building, Class C3 subject to total floorspace being no greater than 150 sqm of floorspace in the building*

 

 

Sui Generis | Agricultural Buildings

Use for
Agricultural Buildings

Other Sui Generis Permitted Changes
Mix of uses comprising of commercial, business and service (Class E) or betting office or pay day loan shop and up to two flats (Class C3) (if display window at ground level).

Temporary permitted change (3 years) to former Classes A1, A2, A3, B1, public library, exhibition hall, museum, clinic or health centre.

Notes
* Subject to the prior approval of the local authority
^ Transitional provisions