| Index »TYPES OF BUSINESS LICENCE |
|
| TYPES OF BUSINESS LICENCE |
|
| Use Classes |
|
| A 'Use Class' is a grouping-together of similar land uses. The categories are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 as amended. One can change from any use in a Use Class to another use in the same Class without the need to apply for specific planning permission, though an application would still be required for most external building works.
|
| Here is a summary of the main types of use in each Use Class. The descriptions under each heading give a general indication of the sorts of use included; they are not a definition.
|
|
| Shops |
|
| Shops, post offices, travel agents, hairdressers, funeral directors, internet cafes, dry cleaners (but retail warehouse clubs are excluded).
|
|
| Financial And Professional Services
|
|
| Banks, building societies, betting offices, and other financial and professional services provided mainly to visiting members of the public.
|
|
| Restaurants And Cafes
|
|
| Use for the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises.
|
|
| Drinking Establishments
|
|
| Use as a public house, wine-bar or other drinking establishment (but not a night club).
|
|
| Hot Food Takeaways
|
|
| Use for the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises.
|
|
| Business
|
|
| Offices, research and development, light industry appropriate in a residential area.
|
|
| General Industrial
|
|
| Storage Or Distribution
|
|
| This Class includes open air storage.
|
|
| Hotels
|
|
| Hotels, boarding and guest houses where no significant element of care is provided.
|
|
| Residential Institutions
|
|
| Residential care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools, residential colleges and training centres.
|
|
| Dwelling Houses
|
|
| Family houses, or houses occupied by up to six residents living together as a single household, including a household where care is provided for residents.
|
|
| Non-Residential Institutions
|
|
| Clinics, health centres, creches, day nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries, museums, libraries, halls, places of worship.
|
|
| Assembly And Leisure
|
|
| Cinemas, concert halls, bingo and dance halls (but not night clubs), casinos, swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or sports arenas (except for motor sports, or where firearms are used).
|
|
| Changes Of Use Not Requiring A Planning Application
|
|
| These changes of use are permitted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995
|
|
| A2 |
(Financial and professional services) where
premises have a display window at ground level |
Al (Shops) |
|
| A3 |
(Restaurants and cafes) |
Al or A2
|
|
| A4 |
(Drinking establishments) |
Al or A2 or A3 |
|
| A5 |
(Hot food takeaways) |
Al or A2 or A3 |
|
| BI |
(Business) (permission limited to
235 square metres of floor space in the building) |
B8 (Storage or distribution)
|
|
| B2 |
(General industrial) |
B1 |
|
| B2 |
(General industrial) (permission limited to
235 square metres of floor space in the building) |
B8 |
|
| B8 |
(Storage or distribution) (permission limited
to 235 square metres of floor space in the building) |
B1 |
| |
|
|
|
| A planning application is also not required for change of use in the following circumstances: from Al to Al plus a single flat above; and from A2 to A2 plus a single flat above. These changes are reversible without an application only if the part that is now a flat was, respectively, in either Al or A2 use immediately before it became a flat.
|
|
| CHANGES OF USE REQUIRING A PANNING APPLICATION
|
|
| Applications for planning permission are always required for material changes of use involving amusement centres, theatres, scrapyards, filling - stations, car showrooms, taxi and car hire businesses, night clubs, retail warehouse clubs, and hostels. A 'retail warehouse club' is defined as a club where goods are sold, or displayed for sale, only to members.
|
|
| Disclaimer
|
|
| This is a guide to the planning system for businesses in England. It provides guidance on when planning permission is required, how to make a planning application, and what happens afterwards. However, it is not an authoritative interpretation of the law. If, after reading this guide, you are still unclear how to proceed, you should ask the planning department of your council for advice.
|
| |
| |
