Business Articles
Classification of Business Premises
Ever wondered what the Zoning numbers relate to?
When choosing business premises you need to identify which classes are applicable to your proposed business.
Refer to the Use Classes Order - as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987
The Classes shown are a guideline only and can be amended by individual councils and town planners.
Please seek legal advice before signing a lease or purchase agreement.
Use Classes Order
Classes of use set out in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987:
A1 Shops
Shops, post offices, travel agents, hairdressers, funeral directors, dry cleaners.
A2 Financial and professional services
Banks, building societies, betting offices, and other financial and professional services.
A3 Food and drink
Pubs, restaurants, cafes, and hot food takeaways.
B1 Business
Offices, research and development, light industry appropriate in a
residential area.
B2 General industrial
B8 Storage and distribution
including open-air storage.
C1 Hotels
Hotels, boarding and guesthouses where no significant element of care is provided.
C2 Residential institutions
Residential care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools, residential colleges and training centres.
C3 Dwellinghouses
Family houses, or houses occupied by up to six residents living together as a single household, including a household where care is provided for residents.
D1 Non-residential institutions
Surgeries, nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries, museums, libraries, halls, churches.
D2 Assembly and leisure
Cinemas, concert halls, bingo and dance halls, casinos, swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or sports arenas (except for motor sports, or where firearms are used).
Uses for which no classes are specified are known as sui generis. This includes theatres, amusement arcades, launderettes and dry cleaners, car showrooms, taxi or hire car premises, scrap yards, and prisons.
Please Note:
Please clarify the zoning specification with the local council of the area you intend to lease or buy in, as Classes are subject to alteration/amendment at any time.
The details above are given as a guideline only.
A1 Shops
Shops, post offices, travel agents, hairdressers, funeral directors, dry cleaners.
A2 Financial and professional services
Banks, building societies, betting offices, and other financial and professional services.
A3 Food and drink
Pubs, restaurants, cafes, and hot food takeaways.
B1 Business
Offices, research and development, light industry appropriate in a
residential area.
B2 General industrial
B8 Storage and distribution
including open-air storage.
C1 Hotels
Hotels, boarding and guesthouses where no significant element of care is provided.
C2 Residential institutions
Residential care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools, residential colleges and training centres.
C3 Dwellinghouses
Family houses, or houses occupied by up to six residents living together as a single household, including a household where care is provided for residents.
D1 Non-residential institutions
Surgeries, nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries, museums, libraries, halls, churches.
D2 Assembly and leisure
Cinemas, concert halls, bingo and dance halls, casinos, swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or sports arenas (except for motor sports, or where firearms are used).
Uses for which no classes are specified are known as sui generis. This includes theatres, amusement arcades, launderettes and dry cleaners, car showrooms, taxi or hire car premises, scrap yards, and prisons.
Please Note:
Please clarify the zoning specification with the local council of the area you intend to lease or buy in, as Classes are subject to alteration/amendment at any time.
The details above are given as a guideline only.
All articles reproduced with permission from This Is Your Business