| Guvnor

You need no planning permission if your pop-up stays within the unit's current use class. A shop, a café and many services all sit in Class E, so moving between them is not a change of use. A bar or a hot food takeaway sits outside every class and normally needs permission.

Ask the council's planning team for the unit's planning history before you sign anything. An earlier permission can limit opening hours or what you sell.

Use classes for common pop-ups

The class decides whether your use is a change of use.

Use	Class
Shop selling goods other than hot food	Class E(a)
Food and drink mostly consumed on the premises	Class E(b)
Pub, wine bar or drinking establishment	No class
Hot food takeaway	No class

Class E starts for England: 1 September 2020

Temporary planning rights

A permitted development right can cover a temporary use outside the unit's class.

Right	Covers	Limit
Class B	Land that is not a building or its curtilage	28 days a year, 14 for a market
Class D	Temporary flexible use of a building	3 years, 150 square metres, once per site

Class D notice to council: Before the new use begins
Class D listed buildings: Not covered

Take on a short-term space for a pop-up shop

Planning, your agreement with the owner, business rates and fire safety for the space itself.

Check the planning use

Take on a short-term space for a pop-up shop