Use Class Orders

The broadest commercial use class, created by the September 2020 reforms. Class E consolidates the former A1, A2, A3, B1, D1 (part), and D2 (part) classes into a single flexible class, allowing businesses to adapt their premises without needing planning permission.

Use for industrial processes other than those falling within Class E (formerly B1). This covers manufacturing, processing, and other industrial activities that may have environmental impacts such as noise, vibration, smell, fumes, or other disturbance.

Use for storage or as a distribution centre. This class covers warehousing, logistics hubs, and fulfilment centres — a high-demand sector driven by e-commerce growth.

Use as a hotel or as a boarding or guest house where no significant element of care is provided. This class does not include hostels.

Use for the provision of residential accommodation and care to people in need of care, or as a residential school, college, or training centre.

Use as a dwelling house — by a single person, a family, or up to 6 residents living together as a single household (including those where care is provided). This is the most common residential use class.

Use of a dwelling house by 3 to 6 unrelated individuals who share one or more basic amenities (bathroom, toilet, cooking facilities). Larger HMOs (7+) are sui generis.

Non-residential uses providing education, display of art, museums, public libraries, public halls, places of worship, and law courts.

Small-scale local community uses including small shops (under 280m²), community halls, outdoor sport/recreation areas, and swimming pools or skating rinks.

Pubs, wine bars, and other drinking establishments (with or without expanded food provision). Formerly Class A4, reclassified to sui generis in 2020.

Sale of hot food for consumption off the premises. Formerly Class A5, reclassified to sui generis in 2020.

Large-scale entertainment venues that were formerly in Class D2. These are now sui generis, meaning any change of use requires full planning permission.

Various uses that have always been sui generis and do not fall within any defined use class. Each requires individual planning assessment.