Applications, appeals, permitted development, enforcement and planning strategy across England
Planning explanations, updates and practical guidance in video form
The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020
Historical amendment guide. This page explains the 2020 Regulations and how they altered the 1987 Order. It is not a complete current consolidation and later amendments may also matter. For the present English system, use the Use Classes Index and the current Planning Use Classes guide.
In 2020 England made the most substantial amendment to the Use Classes Order since 1987. For the purposes of this timeline we show the Regulations as a separate milestone, but they did not replace the 1987 Order.
These Regulations applied to England only. They were made on 20th July 2020, laid before Parliament on 21st July and came into force on 1st September 2020. You can read the original 2020 Regulations on legislation.gov.uk.
The underlying Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 remains the principal Use Classes Order, but for England it now operates with the substantial amendments made in 2020 and later consequential changes.
Parts A and D were revoked in England, Class B1 was omitted, and the new Classes E, F1 and F2 were introduced.
You can also find more detailed information on the Use Classes home page here at Planning Geek.
Need help with a planning application?
Planning Geek isn’t just a reference site - preparing and submitting planning applications is what we do. If you’d like a hand with an application, an appeal or any other planning matter, we’d be glad to help.
Several uses fell out of the Use Class Order and became Sui Generis.
Use Classes 2020 onwards
SI 2020/757 was made on 20th July 2020 and came into force on 1st September 2020.
You can view the original 2020 Regulations here.
The September 2020 change was delivered through a short package of instruments. SI 2020/757 made the substantive changes; SI 2020/859 added a CIL transitional provision before commencement; and SI 2020/895 corrected the drafting of the F2(a) floorspace test. A further 2021 Order made related amendments to the Use Classes Order and GPDO when Class MA was introduced.
SI 2020/0757 – The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 – download here
SI 2020/0859 – The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 – download here
SI 2020/0895 – The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 – download here
Plus The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 had a minor effect on the Use Classes Order.
The 1987 Use Class order as amended to 2019 is in ordinary type. Any items removed are crossed out with the date of removal or new items are added with the date of being added.
The following items were classed as Sui Generis falling outside of the Use Class Order.
Theatre
Amusement Arcade or centre or a funfair
Launderette
For the sale or display of motor vehicles
For a taxi business or business for the hire of motor vehicles
As a scrapyard, or a yard for the storage or distribution of materials or the breaking of motor vehicles
for any work registrable under the Alkali, etc. Works Regulation Act 1906
Hostel
Retail warehouse club being a retail club where goods are sold, or displayed for sale, only to persons who are members of that club;
Night-club.
Casino.
Betting office,
Pay day loan shop.
Public house, wine bar, or drinking establishment, (added 2020)
Drinking establishment with expanded food provision, (added 2020)
Hot food takeaway for the sale of hot food where consumption of that food is mostly undertaken off the premises, (added 2020)
Venue for live music performance, (added 2020)
Cinema, (added 2020)
Concert hall, (added 2020)
Bingo hall, (added 2020)
Dance hall. (added 2020)
Restaurants and Cafes |
|
Drinking establishments |
|
Hot Food Takeaway |
|
Business |
(a) as an office other than a use within class A2 (financial and professional services), (b) for research and development of products or processes, or (c) for any industrial process, being a use which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit. |
| Class B2 General industrial |
Use for the carrying on of an industrial process other than one falling within the uses described in Class E(g). |
| Class B8 Storage or distribution |
Use for storage or as a distribution centre. |
| Class C1 Hotels |
Use as a hotel, boarding or guest house |
| Class C2 Residential institutions |
Use for the provision of residential accommodation and care to people in need of care (other than a use within class C3 (dwelling houses)). Use as a hospital or nursing home. Use as a residential school, college or training centre. |
| Class C2A Secure residential institutions |
Use for the provision of secure residential accommodation, including use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short-term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or use as military barracks. |
| Class C3 Dwellinghouses |
Use as a dwellinghouse (whether or not as a sole or main residence) by— (a) a single person or by people to be regarded as forming a single household; (b) not more than six residents living together as a single household where care is provided for residents; or (c) not more than six residents living together as a single household where no care is provided to residents (other than a use within Class C4).
Interpretation of Class C3 For the purposes of Class C3(a) “single household” shall be construed in accordance with section 258 of the Housing Act 2004 |
| Class C4 Houses in multiple occupation |
Use of a dwellinghouse by not more than six residents as a “house in multiple occupation”. Interpretation of Class C4 For the purposes of Class C4 a “house in multiple occupation” does not include a converted block of flats to which section 257 of the Housing Act 2004 applies but otherwise has the same meaning as in section 254 of the Housing Act 2004. |
| Class E Commercial, Business and Service |
Use, or part use, for all or any of the following purposes— (a) for the display or retail sale of goods, other than hot food, principally to visiting members of the public, (b) for the sale of food and drink principally to visiting members of the public where consumption of that food and drink is mostly undertaken on the premises, (c) for the provision of the following kinds of services principally to visiting members of the public— (i) financial services, (ii) professional services (other than health or medical services), or (iii) any other services which it is appropriate to provide in a commercial, business or service locality, (d) for indoor sport, recreation or fitness, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms, principally to visiting members of the public, (e) for the provision of medical or health services, principally to visiting members of the public, except the use of premises attached to the residence of the consultant or practitioner, (f) for a creche, day nursery or day centre, not including a residential use, principally to visiting members of the public, (g) for— (i) an office to carry out any operational or administrative functions, (ii) the research and development of products or processes, or (iii) any industrial process, being a use, which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit. (added 2020) |
| Class F.1 Learning and non-residential institutions |
Any use not including residential use— (a) for the provision of education, (b) for the display of works of art (otherwise than for sale or hire), (c) as a museum, (d) as a public library or public reading room, (e) as a public hall or exhibition hall, (f) for, or in connection with, public worship or religious instruction, (g) as a law court. (added 2020) |
| Class F.2 Local community |
Use as— (a) a shop mostly selling essential goods, including food, to visiting members of the public in circumstances where— (i) the shop’s premises cover an area not more than 280 square metres, and (ii) there is no other such facility within 1000 metre radius of the shop’s location, (b) a hall or meeting place for the principal use of the local community, (c) an area or place for outdoor sport or recreation, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms, (d) an indoor or outdoor swimming pool or skating rink. (added 2020) |
The 2020 Regulations remain the basis of the present English Use Class E/F1/F2 structure, subject to later amendments. For current classifications, use the main Planning Use Classes pages rather than relying on this historical comparison table alone.
Use Classes Amendment Regulations 2020 Page Updated: 25th August 2026
Explore the Use Classes section
Use Classes Home · Use Classes Index · Use Classes Directory