Change of Use planning permission examples — what gets approved & refused
130,556 real decisions from 266 UK councils. See what actually gets approved, what gets refused, and why — so you don’t waste thousands on drawings for something your council will reject.
Last updated: March 2026
79.1%
approval rate across 130,556 decisions
That means roughly 1 in 5 change of use applications are refused — often due to avoidable design issues.
130,556
Decisions
103,335
Approved
27,221
Refused
266
Councils
Change of use applications cover conversions between use classes — from commercial to residential, offices to flats, agricultural to dwelling, and more. Outcomes depend heavily on the specific use classes involved and local policy.
What these results show
• Office-to-residential conversions under prior approval have very high approval rates.
• Retail-to-residential and agricultural-to-dwelling are more contentious and vary hugely by council.
• Parking, noise, and amenity space are the most common refusal triggers for change of use.
• Some use class changes don’t need planning permission at all — check the Use Classes Order before applying.
⚠️ These are national examples. Your council could be stricter — or more lenient. See what actually gets approved on your street →
Real change of use decisions
Real examples showing what works — and what gets refused. Use the filters to compare approved and refused applications.
Refused
Change of use of existing property (C3 dwelling house) to House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) for 7no. bedrooms, including conversion of existing outbuilding to accommodate 2no. bedrooms, (Sui Generis Use Class) together with dormer window to the front and roof window to rear
Approved
Deemed consent granted following successful ground (a) appeal against enforcement notice issued under reference ENF/13684/17 (appeal ref: APP/B4215/C/19/3242449) for the the material change of use of first and second floors from self-contained flat (Class C3) to kitchen, storage and ancillary staff
▸ Kitchen/living extensions are the most common approved type.
Approved
Deemed consent granted following successful ground (a) appeal against enforcement notice issued under reference ENF/13684/17 (appeal ref: APP/B4215/C/19/3242449) for the the material change of use of first and second floors from self-contained flat (Class C3) to kitchen, storage and ancillary staff
▸ Kitchen/living extensions are the most common approved type.
Approved
Certificate of Lawfulness for Existing Change of Use to Domestic Garden Space. Adjacent to the curtilage of Woodhouse Farm Grade II Listed.
▸ Listed building applications succeed when design is sensitive to the original character.
Approved
Change of use of part of existing agricultural building and associated external alterations to create 5no. light industrial units (use class E(g) (iii)) within the existing covered steel-framed barn structure. Outdoor storage for Ad Blue containers and outdoor storage of cars in connection with on-l
Approved
CHANGE OF USE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO DOMESTIC GARDEN GROUND AND ALTERATION AND EXTENSION TO DWELLINGHOUSE (NON MATERIAL VARIATION OF PLANNING PERMISSION 21/1471/FUL FOR CHANGE OF ROOF MATERIAL, ADDITIONAL ROOF LIGHT AND AMENDMENT TO ROOF PITCH)
Approved
Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development to establish that the change of use of existing office (Use Class E) to Dental Surgery (Use Class E) is permitted development
Approved
Application No. MO/2023/1140/PLA. Change of use of Agricultural barn to dwelling to include the demolition of part of an existing single story element and replace with new.
21/01465/NMA
Approved
Non material amendment sought to planning permission ref 21/00206/FUL for installation of bi-fold doors and change of use of outbuilding to storage and garden room
Approved
Change of use of the existing agricultural building to use class E (commercial) under Class R of Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015
Approved
Installation of replacement shop front on Western elevation to facilitate sub-division of existing ground floor retail unit (Class E) and partial change of use of first-floor accommodation to offices (Class E(g)(i))
▸ Replacing an existing structure is generally viewed more favourably than building new.
2015/079/DCON
Approved
Change of use from Class 7 hotels and hostels to Class 9 residential; to convert existing building into 5 residential units
25/00764FULL
Approved
Change of use of existing cottage to Estate Office; change of use of existing ag
Approved
Notification for Prior Approval for Change of Use of Partial Agricultural Building to form a Two Storey Dwelling
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
25/04216/FUL
Approved
Change of use from Class 1 Retail (food) to Class 4 Business (office). Works comprise; addition of 1 WC and kitchenette, alterations to internal layout /finishes, repainting of shop front windows, addition of external light and repainting of front facade. (AS AMENDED)
▸ Kitchen/living extensions are the most common approved type.
Approved
Change of use from cafe (Class E) to a one bedroom flat (Class C3)
Approved
Change of use of existing agricultural building to form a dwellinghouse
Approved
CERTIFICATE OF LAWFUL DEVELOPMENT (S192) FOR THE PROPOSED CHANGE OF USE FROM DWELLING INTO 5 NO. BEDROOM HMO (HOUSE OF MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY)
Approved
Change of use of land to mixed residential/business 2 new parking spaces for disabled access, erection of office and visitors reception and creation of gardens (Retrospective)
▸ Accessibility needs strengthen the case for approval.
Refused
Change of use from Class E (g)(i) to residential C3 at first to sixth floor to provide 1 x 3 bedroom apartment with amenity space at sixth floor, Class E at ground floor and basement, and works associated with the scheme including provision of a lift overrun at roof level, refuse storage, cycle stor
▸ Loss of garden or amenity space can trigger refusal, especially in dense areas.
Still scrolling?
You’re looking at national data. 21% of change of use applications get refused — but that number could be higher or lower in your area.
See what gets approved near your home →
Refused
Change of use of single family dwelling (Use Class C3) to a 4 bedroom house in multiple occupancy (Use Class C4)
Refused
Change of use of flatted dwelling (sui generis) to short-term let (sui generis) (Certificate of Lawfulness - Existing)
10/01180/FUL
Refused
Retention of single storey outbuilding to rear of back garden and change of use to nail salon/health and beauty use.
Refused
Application for the change of use of land from agricultural to C3 dwellinghouse, proposal to convert the existing agricultural barn into a single self build dwelling with associated hard and soft landscaping.
Approved
Change of use of the land and building to a single dwellinghouse and associated residential amenity area (permission granted by the Planning Inspectorate in response to an appeal against an Enforcement Notice issued under ref. 20/8098)
Approved
Change of use and alterations to agricultural buildings to form flexible commercial building
Approved
Application under Section 42 of the Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to vary Condition 1 of 24/00216/FUL to extend the period of temporary planning permission for change of use of land to form a hardcore car park
Approved
Change of use to bitumen testing laboratory, offices and research facilities (referral from Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council)
Approved
Temporary change of use under Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2020 from A3 to A5
Approved
Retention of change of use from A1 retail to a Wellbeing Centre (D1).
Approved
Prior notification submission for change of use from offices (Class E(g)(i)) to form 12no. apartments (Class C3)
Approved
Application for continued change of use of land to an outdoor multi-activity centre with retention of hard standing parking areas, motor sports earth track and safety barriers acoustic bunding and siting of cafe, portacabin storage and wc facilities.
Approved
Change of use of former railway line to public footpath/cycletrack
Approved
ECC consultation ref ESS/41/24/UTT/8/01 - Details pursuant to condition 8 (Parking Plan) attached to planning permission ref: ESS/41/24/UTT (Retrospective change of use of land and buildings to inert waste storage and processing (sui generis) comprising a building for use as a workshop and aggregate
Approved
Change of use of an agricultural building to flexible commercial use under Class R
Approved
Permission in principle for change of use to single dwellinghouse
Approved
Prior Approval Notification for the change of use from office (B1) to 82 no. residential flats (C3)
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
Approved
Change of use of agricultural building to 2 residential dwellings - Prior Notification
21/0183/PNO
Approved
Change of use from betting office (sui generis) to cafe (E(b)
Approved
Prior Approval Application under Part 3, Class MA of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) for change of use from offices to dwellinghouses.
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
23/00418/FLL
Approved
Change of use, alterations and extension to steading to form dwellinghouse
Approved
Hertfordshire County Council Regulation 3 application: Change of use of a Medical/Health Service Use (Class E) to use as a Primary Support Base (Class F)
Approved
Change of Use from Dwellinghouse (Class 9) to Community Building (Class 10)
Approved
Prior approval for the change of use of 44-46 The Grove from office use (Class E) to 37 residential units (Class C3) under Part 3, Schedule 2, Class MA of the General Permitted Development (England) Order 2015 (GPDO).
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
Approved
Change of use of ground floor to cafe. Replacement of window with new entrance door.
▸ Replacing an existing structure is generally viewed more favourably than building new.
Approved
Notification for Prior Approval for a proposed change of use and associated building works of an agricultural building to a dwellinghouse (QA and QB) with associated external car parking (one space)
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
Approved
Notification for Prior Approval for a proposed change of use and associated building works of an agricultural building to a dwellinghouse (QA and QB) with associated external car parking (one space)
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
Approved
Class R - Change of use from agriculture to flexible use for cafe/restaurant. (7 day response)
Refused
Change of use from domestic garage to podiatry business (Class 1A) (re-application)
Refused
Change of use of the ground floor from a unisex salon (Class E(c)(iii)), to a restaurant, grill and bar (Class E(b)) (Certificate of Lawfulness Proposed)
Refused
Notification for Prior Approval for Proposed Change of Use of a building and any land within its curtilage from Business (Class B1), Hotels (Class C1), Residential Institutions (Class C2), Secure Residential Institutions (Class C2A) or Assembly and Leisure (Class D2) to a state-funded school.
Refused
CHANGE OF USE OF PROPERTY FROM A1 TO A3 (ITALIAN RESTAURANT EVENINGS 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM AND COFFEE SHOP/TAKEAWAY DAYTIME 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Refused
Proposed Change of use from (Class C4) 6 Bedroom HMO to (Sui Generis) 7 Bedroom HMO.
Refused
change of use of part of domestic garden to form commercial tea garden for walkers and cyclists (revised scheme to NYM/2020/0431/CU)
Refused
Full: Change of use of ground floor dwelling (Use Class C3) to a shop (Use Class E(a).
Refused
Part change of use and alterations to stables to form events venue and installation of air source heat pump
Refused
Proposed Change of use from (Class C4) 6 Bedroom HMO to (Sui Generis) 7 Bedroom HMO.
Refused
Change of use from HMO (C4) to Child Day Care Nursery (Use Class E)
11/147/CP
Refused
Erection of Boundary Fence and Screening to Ground Retention System and Change of Use for Part of Site from Forestry to Residential Use
Refused
Change of Use from two offices to 1 one-bed property.
Related guides
Change of use planning permission explainedBefore you spend £2,000+ on drawings — and risk getting refused
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