Property Type Classification Use Class
All property in the UK is assigned a specific Property Type Classification Use Class Category.
This categorises what activities a property may be used for by its occupants.
The Property Type Classification Use Class Category was first introduced under the “The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987”.
Making changes to the ‘use’ classification of a property was permitted, it was often a lengthy and expensive process, which usually required planning permission, which may have been difficult to obtain, luckily this has now changed.
Changes to the Use Classes
In September 2020, the Property Type Classification Use Class Category was amended, this was mainly to aid and support businesses and other organisations, to enable them to change Use Class with greater ease, where needed. in.
The main changes were:
Classes A1, A2, A3 and B1 were all grouped together and re-labelled as Class E
A4 and A5 were not included in Class E. Instead, they were given a new label – Sui Generis
Class C remains unaffected by the changes, and Class D has now been sub-divided into Classes E, F1, F2 and Sui Generis.
Which Property Type Classification Use Class Category does your property come under?
Property Type Classification Use Class Category can be complex and confusing and falls within the Planning Department of your Local Authority to determine which particular ‘Use Class’ a property will come under and is dependent on the individual circumstances of each property.
We have compiled a guide of which Property Type Classification Use Class Category your property may fall under;
If you need like any further information or advice on Property Type Classification Use Class Category, please contact us.
Industrial processes other than ones falling within Classes B3 to B7.
Five Use Classes for the uses, processes and manufacture of chemicals, metalwork, acids, oils, animal by-products and mining and quarrying.
For storage and distribution centre, including logistics, warehousing, open air storage etc.
Use for any or all of the following purposes, Hotels, Boarding Houses, Guest Houses, Hostels
Use for any or all of the following purposes:
Residential accommodation and care to people in need of care (other than within Use Class C3)
Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Residential Schools, Residential Colleges, Residential Training Centres
For use as a dwelling house (whether or not as a sole or main residence), By a single person or by people living together as a family, or By not more than six residents living together as a single household (including a household where care is provided by residents)
For use as a dwelling house by 3-6 residents as a ‘House of Multiple Occupation’ HMO
Use for any or all of the following purposes: Shops, Retail Warehouses, Hairdressers,
Ticket & Travel Agencies, Post Offices (but not Sorting Offices), Pet Shops, Funeral Directors
Sandwich Bars (or other cold food for consumption off the premises), Showrooms,
Domestic Hire Shops, Dry Cleaners, Internet Cafés.
Financial & Professional Services; use for the provision of: Financial Services (such as Banks & Building Societies), Professional Services (other than Health & Medical Services), Estate Agents, Employment Agencies, Betting Shops
Restaurants & Cafés; For the sale of food or drink for consumption on the premises or of hot food for consumption off the premises, including restaurants, snack bars and cafés.
Business; Use for any or all of the following purposes: Offices, For Research & Development of products or processes, for any industrial process (being a use which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit.)
Non-Residential Institutions; Clinics, Medical or Health Services, Crèche, Day Nurseries, Day Centres.
Assembly & Leisure; Gyms or Other areas for indoor recreation not involving motorised vehicles or firearms.
For any use not including a residential use: For the provision of education, For the display of works of art (other than for sale of hire), Museums, Public Libraries or Public Reading Rooms, Public Halls or Exhibition Halls, For, or in connection with public worship or religious instruction, Law Courts.
Indoor or Outdoor Swimming Pools, Skating Rinks, Outdoor sports or recreations (other than motorised vehicles or where firearms are used), Community Halls, Shops no larger than 280sqm (selling mostly essential goods and at least 1km from another similar shop)
‘Sui Generis’ is a Latin phrase which when translated states ‘of its own kind’ and it covers uses that don’t fall into any of the above Use Classes, as follows;
Theatres, Houses in multiple paying occupation, Hostels providing no significant element of care,
Scrap Yards, Petrol Filling Stations, Shops selling or displaying motor vehicles,
Retail Warehouse Clubs, Nightclubs, Launderettes, Taxi & Minicab Businesses, Amusement Centres,
Cinemas, Concert Halls, Bingo Halls, Casinos, Dance Halls, Live Music Venues, Pubs, Wine Bars,
Other Drinking Establishments, Hot Food Takeaway.