Planning identifies a range of uses of land and buildings. This information is for guidance purposes only, for any clarification you should either contact Planning or refer to the following legislation and all subsequent amendments:
Planning permission is a change in the use of land or buildings. What amounts to a material change in the use of the land depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. If in doubt clarification should be sought from the Planning Development Management Team.
The 1997 order groups similar types of use together into separate classes. Where a building or land is used for a purpose which is included in a particular class, the use of that building or land for any other purpose in the same class shall not be taken to involve development and therefore would not require planning permission. This is subject to conditions in certain circumstances. A change in the use of land or buildings is considered as development and therefore normally requires planning permission.
Any use not falling within a specified class falls into the Sui Generis category. Sui Generis is a Latin expression, literally meaning of its own kind or unique in its characteristics. Except in the case of changes permitted from car sales and hot food take-away use, planning permission is required for any change to or from any Sui Generis use. This guide shows some of the recognised Sui Generis uses, but this list is not exhaustive and other uses may be Sui Generis even though not specifically mentioned
Any use not falling within a specified class falls into the Sui Generis category. Sui Generis is a Latin expression, literally meaning of its own kind or unique in its characteristics. Except in the case of changes permitted from car sales and hot food take-away use, planning permission is required for any change to or from any Sui Generis use. This guide shows some of the recognised Sui Generis uses, but this list is not exhaustive and other uses may be Sui Generis even though not specifically mentioned.
Class | Use Description | Change Permitted |
---|---|---|
Class 1A
| Use as:
| Change to Class 3 permitted, unless it would result in the change of use of a building unit situated below any part of a dwelling, or it would result in the change of use of a building or a building unit which is within 1 metre (without taking account of any communal access) of a dwelling. Change to Class 4 permitted, only if the building or building unit is 300sqm or less. Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Sui Generis
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Sui Generis
| Use as:
| Change of use to Class 1a permitted. Change to Class 3 permitted, unless it would result in the change of use of a building unit situated below any part of a dwelling, or it would result in the change of use of a building or a building unit which is within 1 metre (without taking account of any communal access) of a dwelling. Change of use to Class 4 PD if under 300m². Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Class 3
| Use as
| Change of use to Class 1a permitted. Change of use to Class 4 if the building or building unit is under 300m². Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Sui Generis
| Use as:
| Change to Class 1a PD. Change to Class 3 permitted, unless it would result in the change of use of a building unit situated below any part of a dwelling, or it would result in the change of use of a building or a building unit which is within 1 metre (without taking account of any communal access) of a dwelling. Change of use to Class 4 PD if under 300m². Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Sui Generis
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Class 4
| Use as:
| Change of use to Class 6 (up to 235sqm of floor space of building only). Planning permission required for change of use to any other class.
|
Class 5
| Use as:
| Change of use permitted to Class 4. Change of use permitted to Class 6 (up to 235sqm of floor space of the building only). Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Class 6 | Use as:
| Change to Class 4 permitted. Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Sui Generis
| Use as
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Class 7
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class.
|
Class 8
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class.
|
Class 8A
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class.
|
Class 9
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class.
|
Sui Generis
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class. |
Class 10
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class.
|
Class 11
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class.
|
Sui Generis
| Use as:
| Planning permission required for change of use to any other class.
|
Full details of the use classes can be found in The Town & Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997.
In this document the following expressions have the meanings assigned to them:
Further advice is available on our information page on Do I Need Planning Permission.