REFERENCE
Commercial Property Planning Use Classes

A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 B1 B2 B8 C1 C2 C2A C3 D1 D2 SUI GENERIS

A1  SHOPS

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Shops, Retail Warehouses, Post Offices, Ticket and Travel Agents, Hairdressers, Funeral Directors & Undertakers, Domestic Hire Shops, Dry Cleaners, Sandwich Bars – Sandwiches or other cold food purchased and consumed off the premises, Internet Cafés and Cyber Cafés.

PERMITTED CHANGE
No Permitted Change except to mixed use as a shop and single flat and vice versa.

A2  FINANCIAL & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Financial Services (Banks, Building Societies and Bureau de Change), Professional Services (excluding Health or Medical Services) (Estate Agents and Employment Agencies).
Other Services – Betting Shops.
Principally where services are provided to visiting members of the public.

PERMITTED CHANGE
A1 (where there is a ground floor display window) plus as above.

A3  RESTAURANTS & CAFES

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Restaurants, Snack Bars and Cafés – Use for the sale of food for consumption on the premises.

PERMITTED CHANGE
A1 or A2.

A4  DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Use as a Public House, Wine-Bar or other Drinking Establishment. The primary purpose is the sale and consumption of alcoholic drink on the premises.

PERMITTED CHANGE
A1, A2 or A3.

A5  HOT FOOD TAKEAWAY

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Use for the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises.

PERMITTED CHANGE
A1, A2 or A3.

B1  BUSINESS

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
a) Offices rather than in a use within Class A2 (Financial and Professional Services).
b) Research and Development – Laboratories, Studios.
c) Light Industry.

PERMITTED CHANGE
B8 (where no more than 235 sq m).

B2  GENERAL INDUSTRIAL

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
General Industry (Other than Classified as in B1).
The former ‘Special Industrial' Use Classes, B3 – B7, are all now encompassed in the B2 Use Class.

PERMITTED CHANGE
B1 (unlimited) or B8 (where no more than 235 sq m).

B8  STORAGE OR DISTRIBUTION

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Storage or Distribution Centres.

PERMITTED CHANGE
B1 (where no more than 235 sq m).

C1  HOTELS

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Hotels, Boarding Houses & Guest Houses. Development falls within this class if ‘no significant element of care is provided’.

PERMITTED CHANGE
No Permitted Change.

C2  RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Residential School and Training Centres. Use for the provision of residential accommodation and care to people in need of use.

PERMITTED CHANGE
No Permitted Change.

C2A  SECURE RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
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 or use as a military barracks.

PERMITTED CHANGE
No Permitted Change.

C3  DWELLING HOUSES

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Dwellings for individuals, families or not more than six people living together as a single household.

PERMITTED CHANGE
No Permitted Change.

D1  NON-RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Medical & Health Services, Crèche, Day Nursery, Day Centres, Museums, Public Halls, Libraries, Art Galleries, Exhibition Halls, Non-residential Education and Training Centres, Places of Worship, Church Halls, Law Courts.

PERMITTED CHANGE
No Permitted Change.

D2  ASSEMBLY & LEISURE

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
Cinemas, Concert Halls, Sports Halls, Swimming Baths, Skating Rinks, Gymnasiums, Bingo Hall. Other Indoor and Outdoor Sports and Leisure Uses, not involving motorized vehicles or firearm.

PERMITTED CHANGE
No Permitted Change.

SUI GENERIS

USE / DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT
There are many use classes that are not specifically categorised by the four main use classes. These uses are classified as sui generic. For example: Petrol Stations, Retail Warehouse Clubs, Amusement Arcades, Launderettes, Taxi or Vehicle Hire Business & the Selling and Displaying of Motor Vehicles, Nightclubs, Theatres, Hostels, Builders Yards, Scrap Yards, Casinos.

PERMITTED CHANGE
No Permitted Change (except Casinos: permitted change from Sui Generis to D2).


Commercial Property: Looking for a warehouse, workshop or business unit?
Register
with McMeeking

Industrial Units, Warehouses and Workshops in Kent To LET and FOR SALE
View commercial properties in Kent to BUY or RENT.
View Properties

Agents for selling and letting industrial units in Kent
Looking to sell or let your business unit, warehouse, workshop.
Selling or Letting

McMeeking agents for commercial property
Contact us for all your commercial property needs in Kent and the south east.
Contact Us

Property Search