Class A – Emergency development by a local authority or health service body

This class was introduced as a direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic to provide emergency buildings that might be required.

It has now timed out as per A.2(c), however remains part of the GPDO for now. 

We will not be expanding upon the legislation unless required in the future.

Legislation

Class A

Emergency development by a local authority or health service body

Permitted development

A. Development by or on behalf of a local authority or health service body on land owned, leased, occupied or maintained by it for the purposes of—

(a) preventing an emergency;
(b) reducing, controlling or mitigating the effects of an emergency; or
(c) taking other action in connection with an emergency.

Development not permitted

A.1. Development is not permitted by Class A if—

(a) any part of the development is on land which is, or forms part of—
(ii) a military explosive storage area;
(iii) a site of special scientific interest;

(b) the land or building is, or contains, a scheduled monument;

(c) any part of the development would be carried out within 5 metres of any boundary of the curtilage of a dwellinghouse;

(d) the height of any new building exceeds—
(i) a height of 6 metres above ground where any part of the new building is within 10 metres of any boundary of the land; or
(ii) the height of the highest part of the roof of the original building, or a height of 18 metres above the ground, whichever is the greater;

(e) the height of any building enlarged, improved or altered exceeds—
(i) the height of the highest part of the roof of the original building, or a height of 6 metres above the ground, whichever is the greater, where any part of the enlarged, improved or altered building is within 10 metres of any boundary of the curtilage of the original building; or
(ii) the height of the highest part of the roof of the original building, or a height of 18 metres above the ground, whichever is the greater; or

(f) any moveable structure, works, plant or machinery required temporarily and in connection with and for the duration of the development would be located in a position—
(i) within 10 metres of any boundary of the curtilage of a dwellinghouse, or
(ii) within 5 metres of any boundary of the land.

Conditions

A.2. Development is permitted by Class A subject to the following conditions—

(a) if the developer is not the local planning authority, the developer must, as soon as practicable after commencing development, notify the local planning authority of the development;

(b) any use of the land for the purposes of Class A ceases on or before 31st December 2022; and

(c) on or before the expiry of a period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the use of the land ceases for the purpose of Class A—
(i) any building, works, plant, machinery, structure and erection permitted by Class A is removed; and
(ii) the land is restored to its condition before the development took place, or, if the developer is not also the local planning authority, to such other state as may be agreed in writing between the local planning authority and the developer.

Interpretation of Class A

A.3— (1) For the purposes of Class A—

“emergency” means an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in a place in the United Kingdom;

“health service body” means—

(a) the National Health Service Commissioning Board;
(b) the Care Quality Commission;
(c) an integrated care board established under Chapter A3 of Part 2 of the National Health Service Act 2006;
(e) the Health Research Authority;
(g) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority;
(h) the Human Tissue Authority;
(i) Monitor;
(j) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(k) a Special Health Authority established under section 28 of that Act;
(l) an NHS trust in England as defined in section 25 of that Act;
(m) an NHS foundation trust in England, as referred to in section 30(1) of that Act;
(n) a company formed under section 223 of that Act and wholly owned by the Secretary of State.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), an event or situation threatens serious damage to human welfare only if it involves, causes or may cause—

(a) loss of human life;
(b) human illness or injury;
(c) homelessness;
(d) damage to property;
(e) disruption of a supply of money, food, water, energy, or fuel;
(f) disruption of a system of communication;
(g) disruption of facilities for transport; or
(h) disruption of services relating to health.

(3) For the purposes of Class A, where 2 or more original buildings are within the same curtilage and are used for the same undertaking they are to be treated as a single original building in making any measurement.

Page Updated:  13th August 2023