Temporary Permitted Changes of Use

The following change of uses will not require planning permission for a limited time:

Buildings with a range of uses - shops, financial and professional services, cafes, pubs, fast food takeaways, offices, non residential institutions, assembly and leisure (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, D1 and D2) to change to uses having a lesser or similar impact including shops, financial and professional services, cafes, offices, (A1, A2, A3 and B1) for a single temporary period of up to two years, subject to a 150m2 size limit;
Buildings in all use classes to change to use as a state-funded school for a temporary period of one academic year, subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Education. 

On the 21st July 2020 the government published the The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 which will come into force on the 1st September 2020. Previous Use Classes will still be applicable until 31st July 2021 (which is the transitional period).

Class D: Temporary Flexible Use

Class D was introduced to allow temporary changes of use for buildings or land without needing full planning permission. This use class enables buildings or land to be used for a different purpose for up to three years.

Eligible Temporary Uses Include:

• Class B1: Business (now mostly merged into Class E, but still relevant for some transitional cases)
• Class B8: Storage or distribution
• Class C1: Hotels
• Class D1: Non-residential institutions (now mainly part of Class F1)
• Class D2: Assembly and leisure (now mainly part of Class F2)

This class allows flexibility for property owners and developers to adapt to changing market demands or to test new business models without the long-term commitment that a full change of use would entail.

Class C: Temporary Use of Buildings for Film-making

This class allows buildings to be used temporarily for film-making purposes for up to nine months in any 27-month period.

Key Points:

• Includes activities like filming, production, and associated temporary uses such as set construction.
• No additional planning permission is required for this temporary use.

Class MA: Temporary Use of Vacant Commercial Buildings as Dwellinghouses

Although not temporary in the traditional sense, it's worth noting that Class MA permits the change of use of vacant commercial buildings (Class E) to residential use (Class C3). This is a permanent change, but it can be applied temporarily if the intention is to revert after a certain period, under certain conditions.

Special Considerations During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK government introduced temporary changes to planning regulations to support businesses, particularly those in the hospitality sector. For example, there were allowances for temporary outdoor seating areas for pubs, cafes, and restaurants. While many of these measures were temporary and may no longer be in effect, they illustrate how the planning system can adapt to meet immediate needs.

Updated: 18th March 2021