Planning permission may be required to use a property in a different way.
The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) puts uses of land and buildings into various categories known as ‘Use Classes’
Information regarding the Use Classes Order is available on the Planning Portal website. This explains the different types of uses and when a change of use may need planning permission.
If you can’t find the information you are looking for, we can provide help and advice as to whether a proposed use would need planning permission.
Do I need to apply for change of use for amenity land to garden?
There are often small pieces of land often grassed and unfenced that have been sold to adjacent homeowners when the houses were first built. These areas of land are referred to as amenity land. Whilst they may be privately owned, they are used to provide landscaping for developments. Should you wish to fence off this land and include within your garden, planning permission for the change of use of the land from amenity land to private residential garden land would be needed. If you require further information about your proposal, and whether the change of use would be acceptable a pre-application enquiry should be submitted.
Is planning permission needed to rent my property out?
Planning permission may be required if you are going to use your property as a House of Multiple Occupation (i.e. occupied by a number of individual residents rather than a family). It is not required if you are renting your property out for a single household/family. If you are unsure as to whether or not you need planning permission for this purpose, please submit a pre-application enquiry.