Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended)
Use Class |
Use/Description |
Permitted Change |
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A1 | ![]() |
Shops |
Shops, retail warehouses, sandwich bars, hairdressers, undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post offices, dry cleaners, showrooms, domestic hire shops, funeral directors, internet cafés . |
No Permitted Change except to mixed use as a shop and single flat and vice versa |
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A2 | Financial and Professional Services |
Banks, Building societies, estate and employment agencies, Professional and Financial Services, betting offices |
A1 (where a ground floor display window exists). |
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A3 | Restaurants and Cafes |
Restaurants, snack bars, cafés |
A1 (where a ground floor display window exists) or A2 |
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A4 | Drinking Establishments |
Public house, wine-bar or other drinking establishment |
A1, A2 or A3 |
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A5 | Hot food and Takeaways |
The sale of hot food for consumption off the premises |
A1, A2 or A3 |
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B1 | Business |
Offices (other than those that fall within A2), research and development of products and processes, light industry appropriate in a residential area. |
B8 (where no more than 235 sq m) |
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B2 | General Industry |
Use for industrial process other than one falling within class B1 (excluding incineration purposes, chemical treatment or landfill or hazardous waste). |
B1 (unlimited) or B8 where no more than 235 sq m) |
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B8 | Storage/Distribution |
Storage or Distribution Centre. This class includes open air storage. |
B1 (where no more than 235 sq m) |
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C1 | Hotels |
Hotels, boarding and guest houses where no significant element of care is provided (excludes hostels). |
No Permitted Change |
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C2 | Residential Institutions |
Residential care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools, residential school and training centres. |
No Permitted Change |
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C2A | Secure Residential Institution |
Use for a 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, military barracks. |
No Permitted Change |
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C3 | Dwelling Houses |
Dwellings for a single person, families or not more than six people living together as a single household |
No Permitted Change |
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D1 | Non-residential institutions |
Clinics, health centres, crèches, day nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries (other than for sale or hire), museums, libraries, halls, places of worship, church halls, law court. Non residential education and training centres. |
No Permitted Change |
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D2 | Assembly and Leisure |
Cinemas, music and concert halls, bingo and dance halls (but not night clubs), swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or area for indoor or outdoor sports and recreations (except for motor sports or firearms). |
No Permitted Change |
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Sui Generis(Uses which do not fall within the specific Use Classes above) | ![]() |
Certain uses do not fall within any use class and are considered 'sui generis'. For example: theatres, houses in multiple occupation, hostels, builders yards, scrap yards. Petrol filling stations and shops selling and/or displaying motor vehicles. Retail warehouse, clubs, nightclubs, launderettes, taxi businesses, amusement centres and casinos. |
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No permitted Change except Casino to D2 |
Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended)
This summary provides a general guide to the Use Classes Order which can be open to interpretation and amendment. It is not intended to be comprehensive or relied upon and we strongly recommend that you obtain professional advice as to your particular circumstances.
Bowyer Bryce does not accept any duty of care or liability for any loss occasioned by any person relying upon this guide.