Shop Classifications? A1/A3?

[MrBaker]

Guys just wondering if someone could hopefully clarify a few things for me?

A3 Class is for restaurants and A1 for retail.

But I have seen some coffee shops and sandwich shops trade in A1 units

Long story short, I am trying to work out what class for my bakery (mainly takeaway), obviously my life becomes easier with A1!!

Cheers

 

[ginantonic]

As far as I know, if they are sitting down, it's GOT to be A3, takeaways can get away with an A1.

 

[MrBaker]

Hmm, I spoke to someone and they said depends on how many seats in relation to your business? eg if 90% you business is takeaway but you have 10 seats for the 10% that eat in, its ok for A1 (if you serve say 1000 a day)

It sounded as though there was no hard and fast rule and it was determined somewhat independently?

Seen numerous lunchtime businesses with a just a few seats and I guessed this rule would justify that as I cant see them having a3

Also does it have something to do with hot food?

 

[YoungMoneyChina]

This is something that will depend on your local council as they all seem to have there own rules and little things make differences.

We are currently changing one of our shop units from a1 to a5 as we want to open a sandwich shop takeaway serving hot and cold food to consume off the premises.

We were told that we may get away with a3 but a5 is best to play it safe incase we expand more into hot food in the future. We could not have left it as a1 and opened this business.

I assume this will be a similar case for you but like i said its best to contact your local planning officer.

Hope that helps

 

[silklink]

http://www.wealden.gov.uk/Planning_...ication_forms/TCPA_Use_Classes_Order_2005.pdf

Not sure if there is a more recent amendment, but useful as a guide

 

[MrBaker]

Ahh, I didnt realise it varied from council to council, makes sense.

There also seems to be a grey area that some of the bigger food companies exploit (apparently as I got this off an estate agt!)

whereby they sell only minimal hot food eg soup and have a v. small area for seating relative to the proportion of business they do, meaning they can get away as coldfood takeaway retailers, hence A1 so they get the pick of the shops and cheapest prices....