Bit of guidence on change of use please

[keepitsecret]

Hi Guys,

Everyone knows this forum is a well of knowledge and I'm wondering if I could get some info from it if possible?

How easy is it to get a 'Chanve of Use' on a commerical retail unit? I'm hoping to change the unit from 'retail' to 'warehouse' (or nearest thing that you can get to warehouse' in a residential area.

Also, with a change of use would the fee's drop in price?

any help would be great

cheers
Mark B.

 

[keepitsecret]

*bump* please...

 

[laguna]

Changes of use are not always clear-cut, however for use as a warehouse a class B1 (Business) to a class B8 (Storage or Distribution): permission is limited to 235 square metres of floor space in the building. That means that planning permission will be required if your space exceeds this, but please check as these things are often misinterpreted.

CLASS B1: BUSINESS Use for all or any of the following purposes:

a. as an office other than a use within class A2 (financial & professional services),
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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.
​

There are certain types of change of use, which do not require planning permission for example, a change of use from one type of shop to another does not (normally) require planning permission. Whereas a change of use from say a field to a caravan park would require planning permission, or a home garage to a business workshop, or house to an hotel etc. would.

Planning permission is not generally needed for internal alterations to buildings that do not affect their external appearance, for small external works, or most works of repair and maintenance. Limited changes of use may also be permitted.

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 and the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes Order) 1987 are the principle sources of information.

You would be advised to always check that planning permission is not needed for the proposed change of use but I suspect that if the reverse were true i.e. you wanted to change from a warehouse > commercial retail unit then you WOULD need it for sure.

Good luck
Chris

 

[keepitsecret]

Hi Laguna,

Thanks for your help on this..

much appreciated

 

[thebigIAM]

Call me a cynic, but I tend to think these things are somewhat of a postcode lottery, very much dependant on the personalities who work in the local council's planning department.

They would probably prefer some commercial activity rather than an empty shop, if they have any common sense, but you never can tell. How high is the shop's profile on the nearby street scene? Will the warehouse generate any noise, especially at unsociable times, or significantly extra traffic?

 

[keepitsecret]

Hi thebigIAM,

Thanks for your reply.


Umm.. not really the property is on a residential road. No Noise would come from the property, maybe just normal people traffic. in and out at normal working hours.

 

[deniser]

Wasn't the question how to get from A1 (retail) to warehouse rather than B1 (offices) to B8 (storage & distribution)? But what sort of warehouse?

A1 includes a "retail warehouse" already. B8 relates to a wholesale warehouse.

You need to provide more detailed information as to the existing use/use class and proposed use to get the right answer.

 

[keepitsecret]

Hi Deniser,

Its currently an A1 building... looking at changing use to as a self-storage warehouse. So that would be the change of use I would be looking at.

If change of use would be gratned would the ratable value then change to co-inside?

The property i'm interested in has been a ghost for nearly a year 'n a half.

I look forward to your reply's

thanks in advance.

 

[Indivijewelistic]

I agree, it is a post code thing, how close it is to existing well used retail and what the property has historically been used for.

If it is on a high street or on a link through to a high street you might get more opposition from the local council if you try to change its use.

If I were you I would go straight to the horses mouth, phone the local planning department and ask them, because that is where you will end up in any event. If they don't want it to happen the chances are it is not going to happen, unless you want to employ an expensive planning consultant to try to push it through and that can be expensive.

 

[keepitsecret]

Hi Indivijewelistic,

Many thanks for your reply.

You are right.. I will indeed have to goto the Council and ask the question...

The proprty is in a residential area and was once a cafe.. has not been anything for a long time.. I have a business idea which might take off after I have spoken to a few more people about it and just wanted to get an idea on how easy it would be to change use..

thanks for everyones help.