Welcome to our dedicated projects page that showcases our change of use projects that utilise the Use Classes Order. In England thus underwent significant changes in September 2020 to provide greater flexibility in property use and support economic recovery. The key amendments included the introduction of new classes and the reclassification of certain uses:

​

• Class E (Commercial, Business, and Service): This new class consolidated several previous classes, including A1 (Shops), A2 (Financial and Professional Services), A3 (Restaurants and Cafés), B1 (Business), and parts of D1 and D2. It encompasses a wide range of uses such as retail, restaurants, offices, gyms, and healthcare services, allowing for changes between these uses without the need for planning permission.

• Class F1 (Learning and Non-Residential Institutions): This class includes uses such as schools, libraries, museums, and places of worship.

• Class F2 (Local Community): This class covers uses important to local communities, including small shops (under 280 square meters) selling essential goods, community halls, and outdoor sports facilities.

 

Additionally, certain uses were designated as 'sui generis' (in a class of their own), meaning any change to or from these uses requires planning permission. This category includes uses such as pubs, wine bars, hot food takeaways, and cinemas. These changes aimed to simplify the planning system and provide greater adaptability for property uses, particularly in response to changing economic conditions and the evolving needs of communities.

​

In the context of land-use planning, zoning, and classifications such as Use Classes Order (e.g., in the UK or similar systems globally), several potential future changes may emerge. These changes are driven by evolving societal needs, environmental concerns, and technological advancements. I the future we are likely to see increasing integration of residential, commercial, and leisure spaces within single developments or zones. This may involve relaxing restrictions between certain classes (e.g., allowing more mixed-use developments in traditionally single-use zones). We will also see a  rise in remote work might lead to changes that accommodate home offices within residential use classes.

 

In the future a greater emphasis will be placed on preserving and creating green spaces within urban areas could lead to stricter controls on land-use changes that affect ecological balance with changes to use classes to support renewable energy installations, green infrastructure, and eco-friendly building practices ad affordable Housing: Policies may prioritize conversions of certain classes (e.g., commercial to residential) to address housing shortages, especially rural housing.

​

These trends suggest that future changes to use classes will aim to strike a balance between flexibility, sustainability, and efficiency, reflecting the rapidly changing needs of modern societies.

​

If you would like to see how our Planning Consultancy and Architectural Services can work in harmony to deliver success by the utilising the use classes order please do not hesitate to contact us.

​

Example Project: Lawful Development Certificate to confirm that the proposed change of use from Army Cadet Force Training Centre to a Place of Worship (Use Class F2) does not require planning permission.

 

This Certificate of Lawfulness application site relates to the existing Army Cadet Force Unit, located at 90 Stourbridge Road, Dudley. The unit is located to the rear of properties of Marmion Grove and Spring Parklands, with access from Stourbridge Road and long driveway. The site benefits from very little off street parking. Section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (the Act) defines the meaning of development. The submitted application looekd to gain apporval for the change of use of the former Army Cadet Centre to a Place of Worship.
 

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 came into effect on the 1st September 2020. The Regulations include Local Community and Learning uses within Class F, which includes for the provision of education, museums, public libraries and places of worship within Use Class F1 – Learning and non-residential institutes. The lawful use of the application site is as an Army Cadet Force Training Centre, which has occupied the site continuously since at least November 2015. No evidence of any intervening uses contradicts this. As such, the existing use would fall within the Use Class F1 (a) Learning and Non-Residential Institutions – Provision of Education within the Use Classes Order, in accordance with Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​
 

Dudley Council confirmed that both the existing and proposed use fall with Class F1 (Learning and non-residential institutions) of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) by the 2020 Regulations; so therefore, the proposal does not constitute 'Development' as defined in section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. For this reason, the proposal does not require the benefit of planning permission.

​

Further Projects

​