Directory of planning use classes

 

On this page, we state that there is no directory or gazetteer of planning use classes. There isn’t. This is not a list of planning use classes. It is however a directory showing which use classes we expect a particular use to fall into. There is a difference – honest!

This is a directory where we expect the uses to come.  Over 330 planning use examples. But we do list every letter from A to Z!

There used to be a land use gazetteer several years ago, but this is very out of date. Sadly there is a risk that people might refer to that in order to try and figure out the use class of a building. It is misleading and should be avoided. Life has moved on!

It isn’t every building use within England, but there are quite a few! Some might be open to debate as well. Where a use class is not described in either Use Class B, C, E, F1 or F2 then it falls outside the Use Class Order and is therefore Sui Generis.

A recent appeal APP/R5510/X/22/3290784 was confirmed by the inspectorate that a former restaurant could become a tanning salon, a use that was previously deemed as Sui Generis. This was thanks to the new wording in Use Class E that says ‘any other services which it is appropriate to provide in a commercial, business or service locality’ .

Note that buildings which have multiple true uses could well be classed as Sui Generis. However if the secondary use is ancillary then the Use Class remains as the main one. For example a Cathedral with a shop would still be F1, as the gift shop is ancillary to the Church. This is important – as many uses could be an alternative use class if ancillary or incidental to another use. Also see ‘What is a planning unit‘.

We will add to this directory / gazetteer if we find that some common uses are missing. If you feel we are wrong in any of these, please let us know! It might just be a typo on our part. Please note that this list applies only to England. There might be similarities to use classes in Wales and Scotland, but they are different. 

 

The Use Class Directory

 

You can sort this table on either column. You may also search for keywords. We have over 330 examples in the Use Class Directory, but if any are missing, let us know (we bet you can’t!).

Usage	Use Class
Adult Entertainment Venue	Sui Generis
Adult Gaming Centre	Sui Generis
Agricultural Units	Sui Generis
Aesthetic Clinic	E
Airport	Sui Generis
Airport Car Park Facility	Sui Generis
Air Traffic Control Tower	Sui Generis
Alkali Work	Sui Generis
Ambulance Station	Sui Generis
Amusement Arcade	Sui Generis
Aparthotels	C1
Art Gallery	F1
Artists Studio	E
Assisted Living	C2
Auction Houses	E
Baker	E
Banks	E
Barbers	E
Barns	Sui Generis
Basketball Court	F2
Battery Energy Storage Systems	B8 ∆∆
Beauty Salons	E *
Bed & Breakfast	C1
Bedsit	C4
BESS	B8 ∆∆
Betting Shops	Sui Generis
Bicycle Shop	E
Bingo Hall	Sui Generis
BMX Park	F2
Boarding Houses	C1
Boarding Kennels	Sui Generis
Boarding School	C2
Boat building	B2
Bookshop	E
Bowling Alley	Sui Generis
Builders Yard	Sui Generis ∆
Building Societies	E
Buildings used for storage	B8
Bungalows (use by single person or family)	C3
Bus Depot	Sui Generis
Butcher	E
Cafés	E
Cab Company	Sui Generis
Capsule Hotels	C1
Car Body Shop	B2
Car Hire / Car Rental	Sui Generis
Car Park (stand alone)	Sui Generis
Car Racing	Sui Generis
Car Repairs	B2
Car Sales	Sui Generis
Car Servicing	E
Car Showroom	Sui Generis
Caravan Site / Park	Sui Generis
Care Homes	C2
Carpet Shop	E
Casino	Sui Generis
Catering Premises & Production	B2
Catering Storage & Distribution	B8
Cattery	Sui Generis
Cemetery	Sui Generis
Charity Shop	E
Chemical Factory	B2
Chemist	E
Chinese Takeaway	Sui Generis
Church Halls	F1
Churches	F1
Cinema	Sui Generis
Clinical and Scientific Research Sites	E ∆∆∆
Clinics	E
Cloud Kitchen	Sui Generis
Clothes Shop	E
Cold Storage Warehouse	B8
Colleges	F1
Comedy Club	Sui Generis
Commercial Radio Station	Sui Generis
Community Radio Station	E
Community Space	F2
Concert Hall	Sui Generis
Convenience Store	E
Courier Service	B2
Crèches	E
Crematorium	Sui Generis
Cricket Pitches	F2
Custody Centres	C2A
Dairy Farming	Sui Generis
Dance Hall	Sui Generis
Dark Kitchen	Sui Generis
Day Nurseries	E
Deli	E
Demolished Building	No Use Class!
Dentists	E
Dessert Shop	E
Detention Centres	C2A
Distribution Centres	B8
DIY Shed	E
Doctors	E
Dog Grooming Parlour	E *
Dog Kennels	Sui Generis
Dog Training / Exercise	Sui Generis
Drinking Establishments with Expanded Food Provision	Sui Generis
Dry Cleaners	E
Education Facility	F1
Employment Agencies	E
Equestrian	Sui Generis
Escape Room	Sui Generis
Estate Agencies	E
Exhibition Halls	F1
Extra Care Housing	C2 †††
Factories	B2
Farm	Sui Generis
Fast Food Takeaway	Sui Generis
Ferry Terminal	Sui Generis
Film Studio	B2
Firearms Sports	Sui Generis
Fire Damaged Building	Maybe no Use Class if roof and some walls are missing
Fire Station	Sui Generis
Fish & Chip Restaurant	E
Fish & Chip Shop	Sui Generis
Fishmonger	E
Flats (use by single person or family)	C3(a)
Florist	E
Food Processing Plant	B2
Football Pitches	F2
Fried Chicken Takeaway	Sui Generis
Fruit Growing	Sui Generis
Fuel Stations	Sui Generis
Funeral Directors	E
Funfairs	Sui Generis
Garages (Fuel)	Sui Generis
General Industrial	B2
Ghost Kitchen	Sui Generis
GP	E
Greengrocer	E
Group of up to 6 people living together as a single household	C3(a)
Group of up to 6 people living together with care	C3(b)
Group of up to 6 people living together without care	C3(c)
Guest Houses	C1
Gymnasiums (Gyms)	E
Hairdressers	E
Hall or Meeting Place for local use	F2
Hand Car Wash	Sui Generis / E ∆∆∆
Haulage Depot	Sui Generis
Health Centres	E
Health Clinic	E
Hire Shops	E
HMOs (3 to 6 people)	C4
HMOs (7+ people)	Sui Generis
Homeowner with a lodger	C3
Horticulture	Sui Generis
Hospitals	C2 / Sui Generis
Hostels (No care)	Sui Generis
Hot Food Distribution Centre	Sui Generis
Hot Food Takeaways	Sui Generis
Hotels	C1
Houses (use by single person or family)	C3
Ice Cream Parlour	E
Indian Takeaway	Sui Generis
Indoor Sports & Recreation	E
Industrial Process	B2
Industrial Processes in a residential area without causing detriment to the amenity of the area	E
Internet Cafes	E
Jazz Bar	Sui Generis
Jeweller	E
Juice Bar	E
Job Centre	E
Kebab Shop	Sui Generis
Kennels	Sui Generis
Landfill Sites	Sui Generis
Lap Dancing Club	Sui Generis
Large HMOs	Sui Generis
Launderettes	Sui Generis
Law Courts	F1
Library	F1
Lifeboat Station	Sui Generis
Light Industrial	E
Live Music Venue	Sui Generis
Local Halls	F2
Local Shops (no other such facility < 280 sq m within 1 km)	F2
Logistics Hub	B8
Lorry Park	Sui Generis
Maisonettes (use by single person or family)	C3
Market Gardens	Sui Generis
Marina	Sui Generis
Massage Parlour	E *
Micro-brewery	B2
Military Barracks	C2A
Military Training Facility	Sui Generis
Minicab Company	Sui Generis
Mobile Phone Shop	E
Modular Hotels	C1
Monastery	F1
Mosque	F1
MOT Centre	E ††
Motorbike Racing	Sui Generis
Motorcycle Repairs	B2
Motorcycle Sales	Sui Generis
Motorcycle Servicing	E
Motorcycle Showroom	Sui Generis
Motorsport Arenas	Sui Generis
Movie Studio	B2
Museums	F1
Mushroom Farm	Sui Generis
Music Studio	E
Music Venue	Sui Generis
Nail Bar	E *
Nano-brewery	B2
Naval Barracks	C2A
Nightclubs	Sui Generis
Non-residential Education and Training Centres	F1
Non-retail Photographic Studio	E
Nursery (Day)	E
Nursery Grounds	Sui Generis
Nursing Homes	C2
Observatory	Sui Generis
Offices	E
Off-licence	E
Oil Refinery	Sui Generis
Open Air Storage	B8
Optician	E
Osteopath	E
Other Drinking Establishments	Sui Generis
Outdoor Sport	F2
Padel Tennis (indoor)	E
Padel Tennis (outdoor)	F2
Parcel Company	B2
Patisserie	E
Payday Loan Shops	Sui Generis
Pet Cemetery	Sui Generis
Pet Crematorium	Sui Generis
Pet Shops	E
Petting Farm	F2
Petrol Stations	Sui Generis
Pharmacy	E
Phone Shop	E
Photographic Studio	E
Pilates Studio	E
Pizza Delivery Kitchen	Sui Generis
Pizza Shop	Sui Generis
Places of Worship	F1
Pod Hotels	C1
Pole Dancing Club	Sui Generis
Police Offices (not a station)	E
Police Stations	Sui Generis
Polo Ground	F2
Post Offices	E
Postal Sorting Offices	Sui Generis
Printers	E
Printng Press	B2
Prisons	C2A
Private Hire Company	Sui Generis
Private Members Club	Sui Generis
Professional Services	E
Public Halls (except local)	F1
Public Libraries	F1
Public Reading Room	F1
Public Toilets	F2
Pubs	Sui Generis
Pysiotherapy	E
Quaker Meeting House	F1
Quarry	Sui Generis
Recording Studios	E
Recycling Centre	B2 or Sui Generis
Religious Instruction	F1
Research & Development	E
Research Laboratory	B2
Residential Accommodation in need of care	C2
Residential Schools, Colleges or Training Centres	C2
Restaurant	E
Retail Warehouse Club	Sui Generis
Retail Warehouses	E
Royal Mail Delivery / Sorting Office	Sui Generis
Saddlery	E
Sale of cold food for consumption off premises	E
Sandwich Shop	E
Schools	F1
Scout hut	F2
Scrap Yards	Sui Generis
Secure Hospitals	C2A
Secure Local Authority Accommodation	C2A
Secure Mental Health Unit	C2A
Secure Training Centres	C2A
Self Storage	B8
Serviced Accommodation	C1 / C3 / Sui Generis †
Sheltered Housing	C3 †††
Shoe Shop	E
Shops	E
Short Term Holiday Lets	C1 / C3 / Sui Generis †
Short Term Holding Centres	C2A
Skating Rink	F2
Skate Park	F2
Skip Hire	Sui Generis
Snooker Hall	E
Solicitors	E
Space Launch Facility	Sui Generis
Sports Arenas	F2
Strip Club	Sui Generis
Student Blocks	Sui Generis
Sunbed Salon	E *
Supermarket	E
Sushi Bar	E
Synagogue	F1
Supported Housing with care (up to 6 people)	C3
Swimming Pools	F2
Takeaway	Sui Generis
Tanning Salon	E *
Tattoo Parlours	E *
Taxi Company	Sui Generis
Temple	F1
Tennis Courts	F2
Theatres	Sui Generis
Ticket Agencies	E
Tourist Information	E
Toy Shop	E
Training Company	F1
Train Station	Sui Generis
Tram Station	Sui Generis
Travel Agencies	E
TV Studio	Sui Generis
Tyre fitting	B2
Undertakers	E
University	F1
Vehicle Sports	Sui Generis
Veterinary Practice (Vets)	E
Visitor Centre	Sui Generis
Warehouses	B8
Waste Processing Plant	B2
Water Treatment Plant	Sui Generis
Wind Farm	Sui Generis
Wine Bars	Sui Generis
X-ray Clinic	E
Xtreme Sports Centre	E or Sui Generis
Yacht Building	B2
Yard for Breaking of Motor Vehicles	Sui Generis
Yard for Storage / Distribution of Minerals	Sui Generis
Young Offenders’ Institutions	C2A
Youth Centre	F2
Zoo	Sui Generis

* Traditionally we have considered dog groomers, tattoo parlours or beauty salons to be sui generis, but the new wording in Use Class E says ‘any other services which it is appropriate to provide in a commercial, business or service locality’ which in our opinion brings several other local uses into Use Class E. You might however find that the local authority doesn’t agree. We hope they do.

A recent appeal APP/R5510/X/22/3290784 was confirmed by the inspectorate that a former restaurant could become a tanning salon, a use that was previously deemed as Sui Generis, thanks to the line referred to above.

∆ Builders Merchants could be classed as B8 or Sui Generis. Wickes tend to prefer Use Class B8 / E and have obtained this at appeal.

∆∆ We firmly believe that Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) should be B8 as they involve the storage and distribution of energy. However we are mindful that some LPAs have them as Sui Generis or simply not mentioned a Use Class. The judgment in Newbury DC v SoS for the Environment (1981) A.C.578, states that “…storage does not have to be part of the businesses, and that as long as storage was the principal use it could be a Use Class B8 use”. We appreciate this might challenge the thought process from earlier decisions.

∆∆∆ A hand car wash ought to be Use Class E due to the line ‘any other services which it is appropriate to provide in a commercial, business or service locality’, however it could also be Sui Generis. It may also follow the Use Class of the dominant use of the site – so a petrol station is Sui Generis and the car wash could well be ancillary to that use.

∆∆∆∆ See this page for further details involving both an inspectorate and a High Court decision on Clinical and Scientific Research Sites being under Use Class E.

†  Serviced accommodation (SA) or Airbnb etc., can be classed as Use Class C1, C3 or Sui Generis, depending upon the local authority and the number of nights occupied per year.  Serviced Accommodation or SA for short, does not appear in the Use Class Order as a result various local authorities treat them differently.

†† Traditionally MOT locations have also been B2, but providing they are able to operate in a residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area, we feel that they would now be better as Use Class E. But if the location also undertook repairs of any description it would likely fall back into B2.This change is due to the modified Use Class B2 within England as defined in Article 3(1C) of the Use Class Order which was updated in 2020.

††† Sheltered Housing and Extra Care Housing are likely to be C3, unless care is needed by residents when it may fall into C2. Where care is simply available as and when required, doesn’t move it into C2. See Use Class C2 for more information.

 

Eek!  I still need help…..

 

 

No worries – book a session with Ian, the founder of Planning Geek and he will assist you via Zoom on both the building and also what you can do with it.

Ian has complied this directory himself through many clients and is in a strong position to guide.

You can book a session via this page.

 

 

 

 

Directory Page Updated: 11th April 2025

Other Planning Use Classes Sections

Which Use Class is my building?	UCO Timeline
Part B - B2 - B8	Use Class F1
Part C - C1 - C2 - C2A - C3 - C4 - C5	Use Class F2
Use Class E	Sui Generis
Directory of Uses	Changes in 2020/21