The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 separates the uses of specific land and buildings into various categories or ‘use classes’.
This is a general guide, in the first instance, only to the Use Classes and is not intended to be a comprehensive list for taking detailed profressional advice. No liability is accepted for the information it cpontains or for errors or omissions.
It’s important to note that it is up to the local planning authority to determine, dependant on the individual circumstances of each case, which particular ‘use class’ a property may fall into.
Please contact us if you want additional information.
Please note: Planning use classes in Wales are not the same as in England. Wales uses its own classification system and terminology, including ‘Unique Use’ for activities outside standard classes. Always refer to Welsh Government guidance when assessing use or change of use in Wales.
Please Note : Article 4 in Gwynedd and parts of Yr Eryri (Snowdonia) - planning consent required to change of use from Class C3 to C5 or C6.
Consent required to - Convert to or from a holiday let or second home.
Class A1 – Shops:
Use for any or all of the following purposes:
Shops, hairdressers, undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post offices (but not sorting offices), pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, dry cleaners and funeral directors.
Class A2 – Financial & Professional Services:
Use for the provision of:
Financial services such as banks and building societies, professional services (other than health and medical services) including estate and employment agencies (excludes betting offices).
Class A3 – Food and Drink:
For the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises - restaurants, snack bars and cafes, drinking establishments and take-aways.
Class B1 – Business:
Offices (other than those that fall within A2), research and development of products and processes, light industry appropriate in a residential area.
Class B2 – General Industrial:
Use for industrial process other than one falling within class B1 (excluding incineration purposes, chemical treatment or landfill or hazardous waste).
Class B8 – Distribution & Storage:
Use for storage or as a distribution centre. This class includes open air storage.
Class C1 – Hotels:
Hotels, boarding and guest houses where no significant element of care is provided (excludes hostels).
Class C2 – Residential Institutions:
Residential care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools, residential colleges and training centres.
C2A - Secure Residential Institution:
Use for a 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 a military barracks.
Class C3 – Dwellinghouses, used as or main residence:
C3 Dwellinghouses, used as sole or main residences – Dwellinghouses used as a sole or main residence and occupied for more than 183 days in a calendar year. This class is formed of 3 parts:
- C3(a) covers use by a single person or a family (a couple whether married or not, a person related to one another with members of the family of one of the couple to be treated as members of the family of the other), an employer and certain domestic employees (such as an au pair, nanny, nurse, governess, servant, chauffeur, gardener, secretary and personal assistant), a carer and the person receiving the care and a foster parent and foster child.
- C3(b) up to six people living together as a single household and receiving care e.g. supported housing schemes such as those for people with learning disabilities or mental health problems.
- C3(c) allows for groups of people (up to six) living together as a single household to allow for those groupings that do not fall within the C4 HMO definition to be provided for, e.g. a small religious community may fall into this category as could a homeowner who is living with a lodger.
C4 - Houses in multiple occupation:
C4 Houses in multiple occupation - small shared houses or flats occupied by between three and six unrelated individuals, as their only or main residence, who share basic amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom. For the purposes of class C4, a ‘house in multiple occupation’ has the same meaning as in section 254 of the Housing Act 2004 and does not include a converted block of flats to which section 257 of the Housing Act 2004 applies.
C5 Dwellinghouses, used otherwise than as sole or main residences:
Dwellinghouses used otherwise than as a sole or main residence and occupied for 183 days or fewer.
C6 Short term lets:
Dwellinghouses used for commercial short-term letting not longer than 31 days for each period of occupation.
Class D1 – Non-Residential Institutions:
Clinics, health centres, crèches, day nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries (other than for sale or hire), museums, libraries, halls, places of worship, church halls, law court, non residential education and training centres.
Class D2 – Assembly & Leisure:
Cinemas, music and concert halls, casinos, bingo and dance halls, swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or area for indoor or outdoor sports and recreation (except for motor sports, or where firearms are used).
Class - Unique Use:
Certain uses do not fall within any use class and are considered a 'unique use'. Such uses include: theatres, hostels, scrap yards, petrol filling stations and shops selling and/or displaying motor vehicles, launderettes, taxi businesses, amusement centres and betting offices.
Before you negotiate a lease or buy a property for your business, check whether you need to obtain planning permission for your intended use, and, if so, your chances of getting it.
For more information on any of the above, please contact us or read more about it here
Update on Gwynedd’s Article 4 Direction – October 2025
A recent High Court ruling has found Cyngor Gwynedd’s implementation of the Article 4 Direction to be legally flawed. The judgment concluded that Cabinet members were misled regarding the scope and legal effect of the Direction, particularly in relation to what constitutes a “material change of use” between residential categories (C3, C5, C6).
However, the Article 4 Direction remains in force.Cyngor Gwynedd is actively pursuing an appeal, and until a formal Court Order is issued, property owners must continue to seek planning permission before converting a main residence into a second home or short-term holiday let.
Key implications for property owners:
Planning permission is still required for changes of use between C3 (main residence), C5 (second home), and C6 (holiday let).
The legal basis for automatic planning requirements has been challenged, but not yet overturned.
The outcome of the appeal may result in policy revision or withdrawal—updates will follow as the situation evolves.
At Tudor Estate Agents, we are closely monitoring developments and remain committed to providing clear, bilingual guidance to our clients. If you are considering a change of use or have questions about your property's classification, please contact us for tailored advice.
Read more: Update on Gwynedd’s Article 4 Direction – October 2025