WHAT IS CLASS E PLANNING USE?

Photo drone of city centre offices and employment area

WHAT IS CLASS E PLANNING USEAGE? 

DO I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION TO CHANGE TO OR FROM CLASS E USE?

Our FAQ Series answers some of the most commonly searched for queries across TownPlanning.info. 

Today we take a look at planning use classes that cover various forms of employment, business, health, shops and services – the new E Class planning use. 

For more information on use classes, when planning permission is needed and the ‘prior approval’ process, see our Guide to Planning Change of Use and the Use Classes Order.  

 

THE NEW CLASS E, F1 and F2 AND ABOLITION OF CLASSES A, B1 and D

A new use class – Class E (Commercial, Business and Service), introduced on 1st September 2020, includes a broad and diverse range of uses which principally serve the needs of visiting members of the public and or are suitable for a town centre area.

Class E allows for a mix of uses which recognises that a building may be in several different uses concurrently or be used for different uses at different times of the day.

 

SUMMARY OF THE SEPT 2020 CHANGES

The new Classes E, F1 and F2 replace the former A, B1 and D classes as listed below with some uses becoming ‘sui generis’ …

 

FORMER CLASS A1 – Shops

Shops, retail warehouses, post offices, ticket and travel agents, hairdressers, funeral directors and undertakers, domestic hire shops, dry cleaners, sandwich bars – sandwiches or other cold food purchased and consumed off the premises, internet cafes.

Now split between Classes E and F2

 

FORMER CLASS A2 – Financial and Professional Services

Financial services including banks, building societies and bureau de change, professional services excluding health or medical services, estate agents and employment agencies, other services including betting offices, principally where services are provided to visiting members of the public.

Now split between Class E and sui generis

 

FORMER CLASS A3 – Restaurants and Cafes

Restaurants, snack bars and cafes. Use for the sale of food for consumption on the premises.

Now Class E

 
FORMER CLASS A4 – Pub or Drinking Establishment

Now sui generis

 
FORMER CLASS A5 – Hot Food Takeaway

Now sui generis

 
FORMER CLASS B1 – Business: including Offices

B1 (a): Offices other than in a use within class A2

B1 (b): Research and development – laboratories, studios.

B1 (c): Light industrial.

Now Class E

 
FORMER CLASS D1 – Non-residential Institutions

Clinics, health centres, crèches, day nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries (other than for sale or hire), museums, libraries, halls, places of worship, church halls, law courts. Non- residential education and training centres.  

Now split between Class E and F1

 
FORMER CLASS D2 – Assembly and Leisure

Cinemas, music and concert halls, bingo and dance halls (not nightclubs), swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or areas for indoor or outdoor sports and recreations (except for motor sports, or where firearms used).  

Now split between Class E and F1

 

So, what does the new Class E include? … 

 

USE CLASS E – COMMERCIAL, BUSINESS AND SERVICE

Class E is use for the following purposes:

E (a) Display or retail sale of goods, other than hot food

E (b) Sale of food and drink for consumption (mostly) on the premises

E (c) Provision of:

(i)  Financial services,

(ii)  Professional services (other than health or medical services), or

(iii)  Other appropriate services in a commercial, business or service locality

E (d) Indoor sport, recreation or fitness (not involving motorised vehicles or firearms)

E (e) Provision of medical or health services (except the use of premises attached to the residence of the consultant or practitioner)

E (f) Creche, day nursery or day centre (not including a residential use)

E (g) Uses which can be carried out in a residential area without detriment to its amenity:

(i)  Offices to carry out any operational or administrative functions,

(ii)  Research and development of products or processes

(iii)  Industrial processes

New Class E uses benefit from permitted development rights that include: 

  • Changes to use class C3 (dwellinghouses) subject to prior approval
  • Changes to a mixed use for anything within Class E and as up to two flats subject to prior approval
  • … and back again
  • Change to a state funded school or back to a previous lawful use

 

For further details, including any limitations (e.g. floorspace limits), restrictions, conditions etc. refer to the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) and the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended). 

TownPlanning.info has an extensive catalogue of articles and guides which help explain the town planning system in England. 

See below for links to some of our most popular pages or use the search function and menus at the top of the page.  

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

RELATED TOPICS