Permitted development (PD) rights allow certain types of work and change of use without needing to apply for full planning permission. Some PD rights require prior approval from the local planning authority.
- Class E to residential (Class MA)
- Commercial to residential, no floorspace cap (removed 5 March 2024) - prior approval required, building must have been in Class E use for 2+ years
- Class E flexibility
- Free movement between all Class E uses (shops, restaurants, offices, gyms, clinics, creches, indoor recreation) without permission
- Agricultural to residential (Class Q)
- Up to 10 dwellings total (cumulative per agricultural unit), max 150 sq m per dwelling, max 1,000 sq m cumulative - prior approval required
- Office extensions
- Up to 25% of floor space for attached premises (prior approval may be needed)
- Temporary change of use
- Any building can change use for up to 2 years for specified purposes
- Demolition and rebuild (Class ZA)
- Demolition of certain commercial or residential buildings and replacement with residential - prior approval required
- Upward extensions (Class AA/AB/AC)
- Additional storeys on certain buildings, up to 2 storeys for houses, 2 for flats - prior approval required
Prior approval
Many PD rights require prior approval from the LPA. This is a lighter-touch assessment focused on specific impacts:
- Transport and highways
- Contamination and flooding
- Noise from commercial premises
- Natural light in habitable rooms
- Impact on conservation areas and listed buildings
The LPA has 56 days to determine a prior approval application. If they do not respond, approval is deemed granted.
Where PD rights may not apply
- Article 4 directions: LPAs can remove specific PD rights in designated areas
- Conservation areas: Some PD rights are restricted
- Listed buildings: PD rights do not override listed building consent requirements
- National Parks and AONBs: More restricted PD rights
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Additional restrictions apply
Class E - the flexible use class
Class E combines former use classes A1 (shops), A2 (financial services), A3 (restaurants), B1 (offices and light industrial), D1(a-b) (clinics, creches), D2(e) (indoor sport and recreation), and certain other uses. You can switch freely between these uses without planning permission.