The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) 2020
In 2020 we saw a big amendment to the Use Classes Order issued. This saw big changes from the previous version in 1987. Although this was just an amendment, it is far easier to treat it as a new version as far as the history or timeline of the Use Classes Order is concerned.
This order applied solely to England.
Officially the Use Class Order 1987 (amended) is still valid.
Out went Classes A and D and in came E, F1 & F2.
You can also find more detailed information on the Use Classes home page here at Planning Geek.
Several uses fell out of the Use Class Order and became Sui Generis.
Use Classes 2020 onwards
SI 2020/757 was laid before Parliament on 20th July 2020 and came into operation on 1st September 2020.
You can view the original version here.
There have been three amendments to the Use Classes Order 1987 since 2020
SI 2020/0757 – The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 – download here
SI 2020/0859 – The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 – download here
SI 2020/0895 – The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 – download here
Plus The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 had a minor effect on the Use Classes Order.
The 1987 Use Class order as amended to 2019 is in ordinary type. Any items removed are crossed out with the date of removal or new items are added with the date of being added.
The following items were classed as Sui Generis falling outside of the Use Class Order.
Theatre
Amusement Arcade or centre or a funfair
Launderette
For the sale or display of motor vehicles
For a taxi business or business for the hire of motor vehicles
As a scrapyard, or a yard for the storage or distribution of materials or the braking of motor vehicles
for any work registrable under the Alkali, etc. Works Regulation Act 1906
Hostel
Retail warehouse club being a retail club where goods are sold, or displayed for sale, only to persons who are members of that club;
Night-club.
Casino.
Betting office,
Pay day loan shop.
Public house, wine bar, or drinking establishment, (added 2020)
Drinking establishment with expanded food provision, (added 2020)
Hot food takeaway for the sale of hot food where consumption of that food is mostly undertaken off the premises, (added 2020)
Venue for live music performance, (added 2020)
Cinema, (added 2020)
Concert hall, (added 2020)
Bingo hall, (added 2020)
Dance hall. (added 2020)
Restaurants and Cafes |
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Drinking establishments |
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Hot Food Takeaway |
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| Class B1 Business |
Use for all or any of the following purposes- (a) as an office other than a use within class A2 (financial and professional services), (b) for research and development of products or processes, or (c) 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 reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit. |
| Class B2 General industrial |
Use for the carrying on of an industrial process other than one falling within class Bl above |
| Class B8 Storage or distribution |
Use for storage or as a distribution centre. |
| Class C1 Hotels |
Use as a hotel, boarding or guest house |
| Class C2 Residential institutions |
Use for the provision of residential accommodation and care to people in need of care (other than a use within class C3 (dwelling houses)). Use as a hospital or nursing home. Use as a residential school, college or training centre. |
| Class C2A Secure residential institutions |
Use for the provision of secure residential accommodation, including use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short-term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or use as military barracks. |
| Class C3 Dwellinghouses |
Use as a dwellinghouse (whether or not as a sole or main residence) by— (a) a single person or by people to be regarded as forming a single household; (b) not more than six residents living together as a single household where care is provided for residents; or (c) not more than six residents living together as a single household where no care is provided to residents (other than a use within Class C4).
Interpretation of Class C3 For the purposes of Class C3(a) “single household” shall be construed in accordance with section 258 of the Housing Act 2004 |
| Class C4 Houses in multiple occupation |
Use of a dwellinghouse by not more than six residents as a “house in multiple occupation”. Interpretation of Class C4 For the purposes of Class C4 a “house in multiple occupation” does not include a converted block of flats to which section 257 of the Housing Act 2004 applies but otherwise has the same meaning as in section 254 of the Housing Act 2004. |
| Class E Commercial, Business and Service |
Use, or part use, for all or any of the following purposes— (a) for the display or retail sale of goods, other than hot food, principally to visiting members of the public, (b) for the sale of food and drink principally to visiting members of the public where consumption of that food and drink is mostly undertaken on the premises, (c) for the provision of the following kinds of services principally to visiting members of the public— (i) financial services, (ii) professional services (other than health or medical services), or (iii) any other services which it is appropriate to provide in a commercial, business or service locality, (d) for indoor sport, recreation or fitness, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms or use as a swimming pool or skating rink, principally to visiting members of the public, (e) for the provision of medical or health services, principally to visiting members of the public, except the use of premises attached to the residence of the consultant or practitioner, (f) for a creche, day nursery or day centre, not including a residential use, principally to visiting members of the public, (g) for— (i) an office to carry out any operational or administrative functions, (ii) the research and development of products or processes, or (iii) any industrial process, being a use, which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit. (added 2020) |
| Class F.1 Learning and non-residential institutions |
Any use not including residential use— (a) for the provision of education, (b) for the display of works of art (otherwise than for sale or hire), (c) as a museum, (d) as a public library or public reading room, (e) as a public hall or exhibition hall, (f) for, or in connection with, public worship or religious instruction, (g) as a law court. (added 2020) |
| Class F.2 Local community |
Use as— (a) a shop mostly selling essential goods, including food, to visiting members of the public in circumstances where— (i) the shop’s premises cover an area not more than 280 metres square 280 square metres, and (ii) there is no other such facility within 1000 metre radius of the shop’s location, (b) a hall or meeting place for the principal use of the local community, (c) an area or place for outdoor sport or recreation, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms, (d) an indoor or outdoor swimming pool or skating rink. (added 2020) |
This is the most recent version of the Use Classes Order
Page Updated: 30th November 2023
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 |