11/03/2024EFL regulations: ‘Far from perfectly drafted’
The English Football League (“EFL”) looks set to consider tightening its rules and regulations (“EFL… Read more
30/07/2020
The government published draft legislation last week which proposes the first major overhaul in 30 years to the Use Classes Order, due to take effect from 1 September 2020. A number of the familiar use classes will disappear altogether, and new, more flexible uses will be introduced in order to bolster Britain’s challenged high street and allow business to adapt as demand requires without needing planning permission for a change of use. The changes also recognise that the needs of local communities require more flexibility than the planning system currently allows.
The proposal is to abolish:
A new Class E for “Commercial, business and service uses” will be the new home for previous:
A4 (pubs/bars), A5 (takeaways) and certain D2 uses – cinemas, live music venues, dance and bingo halls – are no longer to have any specified class i.e. they will become sui generis uses, as the government feels that changes to or from these uses can give rise to important local considerations which need to be given full consideration through the planning application process.
Class E will cover the following uses, all designed to be used principally by visiting members of the public:
Whilst new Class E will make it easier for vacant shop premises to be re-occupied for alternative uses, the range of uses within Class E does mean that traditional town centre retail will be under even greater threat than previously. Local authorities will also need to re-consider their town centre policies as the emphasis shifts from retail first to supply and demand.
A new Class F.1 for “‘Learning and non-residential institutions” incorporates buildings from D1 which are in wider public use such as educational establishments, galleries, museums, public library, places of worship and courts. This change is likely to be the most restrictive, as uses formerly within D1 such as creches, nurseries and day centres have moved to Class E rather than Class F.1. The range of permitted changes of uses with Class F.1 is now narrower than it was within Class D1.
A new Class F.2 will be the home for “Local Community” uses, which will include:
The placing of smaller-scale shops in Class F.2. rather than Class E is a step-change which recognises the function of smaller units in serving immediate local needs, whether in a rural community or a large residential development, and draws the planning emphasis for these units away from pure land use considerations.
There is a transitional period between 1 September 2020 and 31 July 2021 which will apply to any Article 4 Directions and planning applications made before 1 September 2020; and any prior approval applications made after 1 September 2020, where reference to use classes will be construed as reference to the previous use class. New, revised permitted development rights will be introduced after 31 July 2021.
In planning terms, certainly the range of uses within the new Class E appear to offer a wider range of options in terms of changes of use than is currently the case. However, a word of caution to tenants of any type of premises: any proposed change of use also needs to be undertaken within the terms of the lease and early engagement with the landlord is advised.
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