Change of Use
Planning permission may be required if you want to change the use of a building or land. Most uses fall within a 'use class'.
When is planning permission needed?
There are 16 use classes under the Planning (use Classes) Rules. Unless specifically exempted, planning permission is required to change the use from one class to another or when the change involves uses which do not fall into any use classes
When is planning permission not needed?
Planning permission is not required when the change of use is between uses in the same use class, for example to change of use from a shop to a hairdressers or when uses falls into a classes which allows changes between them.
Summary Guide to Use Classes Order and Permitted Changes of Use (PDF) [26KB]