Class G and Class H – Commercial, Business and Service Use to mixed use and back again

What is Allowed

Class G – Commercial, Business and Service Use or betting office or pay day loan shop to mixed use including up-to 2 flats

Class H – mixed use to commercial, business and service use or betting office or pay day loan shop

Where can I use it

On any building in England without restriction

What is not allowed

Class G is now a prior approval allowance and so is subject to a Prior Notification Application from the 1st August 2021

Class H remains a straightforward PD allowance not subject to Prior Approval.

How do I use the permitted development allowances

Classes G and H are some of the older parts of the General Permitted Development Order and reads as such. The restrictions on Class G are ‘light touch’ allowing for new dwellings to be created with the minimal interaction from the Local Planning Authority.

Class G is now a prior approval allowance requiring consideration of the following information:

(i)contamination risks in relation to the building;

(ii)flooding risks in relation to the building;

(iii)impacts of noise from commercial premises on the intended occupiers of the development;

(iv)the provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the dwellinghouses;

(v)arrangements required for the storage and management of domestic waste

Our Notes

Class G is great for new property investors seeking to dip their toes into new property development.

Class G is available to properties that are within the greenbelt, listed, within Conservation Areas and within Town Centre Locations (subject to an application for Listed Building Consent if the works to convert effect the Listed Building)

There is also no ‘time use first begun’ date within the allowance permitting you to change use into a Class G bearing use.

*Correct at time of writing.