The most common change of planning use, that we work on, is a barn conversion to a dwelling. Often times this is just called ‘change of use’.
Barn conversions mainly have agricultural (or sui generis in planning terms) use. But sometimes they have Storage, Commercial or Business use.
To change the planning use of a barn (or any building) you need planning permission. Sometimes this can be achieved via permitted development. But not always.
Class Q applies only to an agricultural barn to a dwelling
Class MA applies to a commercial use (Class E) into a residential (dwelling) use. This could be a commercial barn or any other type of building that has a current commercial, business or service use.
These permitted development rights are certainly helpful. It’s a very clear message – the government wants to make it easier to convert barns (and many other building types) into dwellings!
Before I go on, yes it is very confusing that there is Class E commercial use and Class MA (permitted development for commercial to residential change of use)!
More detail on Class MA
The application site needs to have been in Use Class E (commercial) for a continuous period of at least 2 years prior to the date of this application.
To qualify for the permitted development route. It also needs to:
- Not be part of a site of scientific interest.
- It does not form part of a listed building
- It does not form part of a scheduled monument.
- It is not part of a safety hazard area or military explosives storage area.
- It is not within Article 2(3) Land.
- It is not occupied under an agricultural tenancy.
Transport and Highways
It’s ideal if your barn has it’s own access already. If it doesn’t. The new one will need to pass highways criteria. With visibility in both directions on exit.
Contamination
A contamination survey may be required, depending on the previous use of the building. If hazardous chemicals have ever been stored in the building, a survey would definitely be required.
Flooding
You can use the UK flood map to assess how likely the building is to flood.
Noise
Residential use does not usually qualify as a ‘noisy’ use so this criteria should be easy to meet.
Natural light
There needs to be at least one window per proposed habitable room. Habitable just means somewhere we spend time in eg. bedrooms and living spaces, not bathrooms.
