Former Use Class D: what changed in September 2020

Use Class D was the former group for non-residential institutions and assembly and leisure uses. It was revoked in England from 1st September 2020, with its former uses moving mainly into Classes E, F1 and F2 or becoming sui generis.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 D?

From 1st September 2020, former Classes D1 and D2 ceased to be current English use classes. Their uses moved between Class E, Class F1, Class F2 and sui generis, depending on the activity.

They are as follows…..

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

Class D1 – Non-residential institutions –
Any use not including a residential use —
a) for the provision of any medical or health services except the use of premises attached to the residence of the consultant or practitioner (Doctors, clinics & health centres, acupuncture clinic etc. (must be medical or health related)) (but not beauticians, nail bars, massage parlours etc. see sui generis) ,
b) as a crèche, day nursery or day centre,
c) for the provision of education (schools, colleges, non residential education, training centres and universities etc.),
d) for the display of works of art (otherwise than for sale or hire) (galleries),
e) as a museum,
f) as a public library or public reading room,
g) as a public hall or exhibition hall,
h) for, or in connection with, public worship or religious instruction (churches & church halls etc.),
i) as a law court (Crown only)

Class D2 – Assembly and leisure –
Use as –
a) a cinema,
b) a concert hall (music halls etc.),
c) a bingo hall,
d) a dance hall,
e) a swimming pool, skating rink, gymnasium or area for other indoor or outdoor sports or recreations, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms (see sui generis). Not night clubs (see sui generis)

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

Where more than one activity takes place, identify the primary use, ancillary activities and the planning unit before describing the overall use as 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 D Page Updated: 24th August 2026

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