Former Use Class A: what changed in September 2020

Use Class A was the former group for uses such as shops, restaurants, banks, pubs and takeaways. It was revoked in England from 1st September 2020, with its former uses moving mainly into Class E or becoming sui generis. This page records the historic position under the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended).  The list below records the former English position immediately before the 2020 changes, including subclasses added or removed over time; it is not a statement of current law. For current permitted-development change-of-use routes, use the change of use table.

What happened to former Use Class A?

From 1 September 2020, the former A classes ceased to be current English use classes. Most A1, A2 and A3 uses moved into Class E, while pubs, drinking establishments with expanded food provision and hot food takeaways became or remained sui generis.

They are as follows…..

(Also see Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E, Class F1, Class F2 and Sui Generis)

Use Class A1 – Shops and Retail Units –
Use for all or any of the following purposes-
a) for the retail sale of goods other than hot food (shops and supermarkets etc.),
b) as a post office (but not sorting offices – see sui generis),
c) for the sale of tickets or as a travel agency,
d) for the sale of sandwiches or other cold food for consumption off the premises (sandwich bars),
e) for hairdressing (incl barbers),
f) for the direction of funerals (funeral directors or undertakers),
g) for the display of goods for sale (showrooms and retail warehouses (Argos etc.) (but not retail warehouse clubs (Costco etc.) – see sui generis),
h) for the hiring out of domestic or personal goods or articles (domestic hire shops),
i) for the washing or cleaning of clothes or fabrics on the premises (dry cleaners),
j) for the reception of goods to be washed, cleaned or repaired,
k) as an internet café; where the primary purpose of the premises is to provide facilities for enabling members of the public to access the internet
where the sale, display or service is to visiting members of the public.

Use Class A2 – Financial and professional services –
use for the provision of –
a) financial services (banks and building societies), or
b) professional services (other than health or medical services – see D1) (estate and employment agencies), or
c) any other services which it is appropriate to provide in a shopping area,
where the services are provided principally to visiting members of the public.
(For betting shops and pay day loan shops see sui generis)

Use Class A3 – Restaurants and cafes – Use for the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises (restaurants, snack bars, cafes etc. – can be a ‘pub’ that sells food and drink)

Use Class A4 – Drinking establishments – Use as a public house, wine-bar or other drinking establishment (where no food or very little is served).

Use Class A5 – Hot food takeaways – Use for the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises.

Check out our changes of change of use table to see which Use Class A use classes enjoy permitted development rights.

Where more than one activity takes place, identify the primary use, any ancillary activities and the planning unit before calling it sui generis. A genuinely mixed planning unit may sit outside a single class, while an ancillary activity normally follows the primary use. The Use Classes Order contains a specific rule for Class E(g) and B2 uses on one site, or adjacent sites forming one undertaking, provided the B2 area is not substantially increased.

Former Use Class A Page Updated: 24th August 2026

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