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Class P – storage or distribution centre to residential
HISTORICAL RIGHT. Class P is closed to new applications. This former storage-and-distribution-to-residential right was subject to statutory time limits, including the 2019 prior-approval deadline. The figures and qualifying dates below are historic, not a current way to convert a Class B8 warehouse to homes. A fresh conversion needs another applicable statutory right or a planning application, considered on its own facts.
| Class P has now finished |
Class P for the conversion of storage or distribution centres has always been date stamped in two ways. Firstly it must have been in use as a storage or distribution centre on or before 19th March 2014 and with the latest 2018 update to the GPDO you must apply for the prior approval and get it confirmed before 10th June 2019. Realistically this means you must apply for the approval by Monday 15th April and even this might be a bit tight as that is exactly 56 days.
I guess there are restrictions? What are they?
If you have read any other use class change, you will be aware that there are usually restrictions as to what you can and more importantly can’t do. With Class P you are limited to a floor space of 500 square metres. This is not the area converted, rather the floor space of the building. It might be possible to partially demolish to reduce the building size before you apply.
You cannot convert via Class P if the building is within an AONB, SPA, the Broads, National Park, World Heritage Site, SSSI, safety hazard zone, military explosives storage area or a scheduled monument. You might occasionally find one in a listed building, and if you do then sadly that is also out. You should also avoid industrial parks for conversion. Check out our glossary if you are not sure on any of these acronyms.
When you apply for the prior approval under Class P the local authority will consider the application against air quality, highways, flood risk, contamination and noise.
As with other permitted development changes there is no requirement to follow national space standards, unless you plan to convert later to an HMO, which has minimum room sizes. You can also divide it into more than one dwelling, but bear in mind that the minimum accepted size for mortgage purposes is generally 30 square metres, although one or two are known to go lower
Check out other permitted development options on our changes of use page.
Page updated: 27th February 2022
Former Class P legislation
Historic permitted development wording: Class P provided for a change of use of a building and curtilage from former Class B8 storage or distribution to Class C3 dwellinghouses. It was subject to historic use evidence and dates, a 500 m² existing-building limit, protected-site and listed-building exclusions, and prior-approval requirements. It does not authorise any new B8-to-residential development.
Other changes of use under Part 3
Find the relevant change of use, its restrictions and any prior approval requirements.
- Class A – Casino, betting or takeaway to Class E
- Class AA – Pubs with expanded food provision
- Class G – Commercial use with up to two flats
- Class H – Mixed use back to commercial
- Class I – Industrial B2 to storage B8
- Class L – Homes and small HMOs
- Class M – Specified premises to homes
- Class MA – Class E premises to homes
- Class N – Casinos or arcades to homes
- Class Q – Agricultural buildings to homes
- Class R – Farm buildings to flexible commercial use
- Class S – Farm buildings to state-funded schools
- Class T – Specified premises to state-funded schools
- Class U – Return from Class T school use
- Class V – Switch between approved flexible uses
- Class W – Prior approval application procedure
- Class X – Part 3 statutory definitions
Former rights (not available for new applications):