Class MA allows for the conversion of buildings, or parts of buildings, from Class E (commercial business and service) to residential use, subject to meeting the specified requirements. These requirements will be altered on 5 March 2024 to ease some of the current restrictions.

The changes to Class MA of Part 3, Schedule 2 to the GPDO are as follows:

  • It removes the requirement that a building must have been vacant for a continuous period of at least 3 months immediately prior to the date of an application for prior approval; and
  • It removes the maximum floorspace limit of 1500sqm for buildings changing use under the permitted development right.

This means that, notwithstanding any Article 4 Direction or restrictive conditions which may be in effect, a building in Class E (of any size and whether vacant or not) use can now be converted to residential use.

Use Class E (commercial, business and service) includes:

Shops, restaurants, financial and professional services, indoor sport, recreation or fitness (not involving motorised vehicles or firearms), health or medical services, creche, nursery or day centre principally to visiting members of the public, an office, research and development, or any industrial process that can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to amenity.

Any building falling into the uses described above can benefit from the revised Class MA permitted development.

If you feel the changes described above may apply to you and would like to know more, please get in touch with Richard or Mireille. Call us on 01935 852170 or email info@assetsphere.co.uk.

Useful links about Class MA

  1. Statutory Instrument: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2024 (legislation.gov.uk)
  2. Current Class MA: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (legislation.gov.uk)

Additional information

Use Class E was introduced in 2020, replacing the following former use classes:

  • A1: Shops (part). Shops, retail warehouses, post offices, ticket and travel agencies, sale of cold food for consumption off premises, hairdressers, funeral directors, hire shops, dry cleaners, internet cafes.
  • A2: Financial and Professional Services. Banks, building societies, estate and employment agencies, professional services (not health or medical services).
  • A3:  Food and drink. Restaurants and cafes.
  • B1: Business. 1: Office other than a use within Class A2. 2: Research and development of products or processes. 3: For any industrial process (which can be carried out in any residential area without causing
  • D1(a):  Non-residential institutions – medical or health services. Clinics, health centres.
  • D1(b): Non-residential institutions – crèche, day nursery or day centre
  • D2(e):  Assembly and leisure – indoor and outdoor sports (other than use as an indoor swimming pool or skating rink). Includes gymnasiums, indoor recreations (not involving motorised vehicles or firearms.