Business owners, landlords and buyers in England
Free change of use check for England: which use class your premises are in, whether the new use stays in the same class, and when you need permission.
ePlan fills in
How it works
What you get
The check is free. The paperwork after it is drafted at the Householder appeal statement door.
Modeled on: Use Classes Order 1987, Schedule 2; planning practice guidance: When is permission required?
From public data
is when Class E came into force, putting shops, cafes and many other commercial uses into one use class
Source: Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020, reg 1
Turn a refused extension into a householder appeal statement for the Planning Inspectorate, answering each refusal reason. Free to read, pay to download.
Questions
No. A change between uses in the same use class isn't development, so it doesn't need planning permission.
A material change of use usually needs planning permission, but permitted development rights allow some changes of use without a full application.
No. Class E covers retail other than hot food, and food and drink mostly consumed on the premises. A hot food takeaway falls outside it, so a shop or cafe can't become one under Class E.
Related doors
Which application did the council refuse?
What is the job?
Where is the site with trees?
What trade is your business?
Where is the site?
Where is the property for the DA?
Answer it and ePlan opens the Householder appeal statement door, which drafts the paperwork.