Change of Use planning permission examples — what gets approved & refused
140,729 real decisions from 325 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: June 2026
79.2%
approval rate across 140,729 decisions
That means roughly 1 in 5 change of use applications are refused — often due to avoidable design issues.
140,729
Decisions
111,449
Approved
29,280
Refused
325
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.
Approved
Change of use from C3 dwelling to C4 6 bed, 6 person HMORear dormer loft conversion and front velux rooflights, conversion of existing attached rear outbuilding, to form part of the internal layout of the building
▸ Rear dormers are far more likely to be approved than front-facing ones.
Approved
Retrospective application for the change of use of a small strip of land to residential garden (Use Class C3), including the retention of a 2-metre-high timber close-board boundary fence enclosing the land.
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
Change of use of part of the existing commercial floorspace and erection of a part single-storey/part two-storey rear extension to create a two-storey, two-bedroom dwelling, together with associated courtyard/garden, installation of an air source heat pump, provision of bin and cycle storage, extern
▸ Two-storey approvals often involve setbacks from boundaries and matching materials.
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
Retrospective change of use of an existing first-floor one-bedroom flat (Use Class C3) to a small administrative office (Use Class E(c)).
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
Prior Approval: Change of use of the vacant first floor commercial accommodation above the existing Londis store to form four self contained residential units, comprising three one person studio apartments and one one bedroom two person apartment.
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
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
Erection of 5no. holiday accommodation pods, amenity pod, and 2no. workshops, with associated decking and installation of roof-mounted solar PV panels. Siting of 1no. yurt; and associated works including access, car parking, hard and soft landscaping, and drainage infrastructure. Erection of timber
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
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.
25/00764FULL
Approved
Change of use of existing cottage to Estate Office; change of use of existing ag
Approved
Change of use from office space to 1 no. two-bedroom flat located on the first and second floor
Approved
Change of use of existing agricultural building to form a dwellinghouse
Approved
Change of use from cafe (Class E) to a one bedroom flat (Class C3)
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.
Approved
change of use of paddock to garden and creation of vehicular access and driveway to serve existing dwelling
Refused
Change of use of single family dwelling (Use Class C3) to a 4 bedroom house in multiple occupancy (Use Class C4)
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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 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
Change of use of an existing C3 residential flat to allow use as short-term visitor accommodation (sui generis), comprising whole-unit short-term letting exceeding 90 nights per calendar year. No external alterations or physical works are proposed.
Refused
Sec 96a non-material amendment to Condition 1 attached to Planning Permission DC/069553 for the change of use from shop to car valeting use (resubmission of application DC/067988 to allow the reposition structural column and add additional supporting column under existing canopy.
Approved
Screening opinion for full application referenced ZA25/27313/FUL for the development of change of use from agricultural land to form ancillary outdoor sports, education and ecological studies area including formation of track, installation of steps and 2.no bridges, erection of timber water station
Approved
Change of use from Class 6 (cash and carry/ food distribution/ storage facility) to Class 11 (gym).
Approved
Prior Notification for the change of use of an agricultural building to a flexible commercial use (commercial storage)
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
Change of use of former railway line to public footpath/cycletrack
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
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 an agricultural building to flexible commercial use under Class R
Approved
Change of use from B1, B2, B8, to class D2 (Assembly and Leisure).
Approved
Notification for Prior Approval for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to office (class E)
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
Approved
Discharge of Condition No. 3 & 5 of DC/25/3656/FUL - Change of use and extension of rear safe room to a dwelling - External material details
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.
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
Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed: Change of use of two existing agricultural buildings to flexible commercial use (Use Class B8 - storage and distribution, and Use Class E(g)(iii) - light industrial) under Class R of the GPDO. No external alterations are proposed
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
Approved
Notification to determine if Prior Approval is required for the proposed change of use of buildings on agricultural unit and former agricultural building to three dwellinghouses (C3) and for associated operational development (Class Qa and Qc)
▸ 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
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.
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 land to caravan site for the siting of 3 no. shepherd huts (for holiday use)
Refused
Block A - Change of use from offices to community use and reduction from 5no. retail units to 1no. retail unit, with associated internal layout plan amendments to accommodate this. Block A - Minor elevational changes, essentially to window /fenestration details to suit the above use changes above.
Refused
Change of use to form two pitch traveller site with erection of 2 ancillary buildings and 2 double garages
Refused
Proposed Change of Use to part existing warehouse to extend existing gym premises and provide 8no. Padel Courts
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
Part change of use and alterations to stables to form events venue and installation of air source heat pump
Refused
Redevelopment and change of use from of No.10 Holiday Homes to No.9 market dwellings
Refused
Change of use from HMO (C4) to Child Day Care Nursery (Use Class E)
Refused
Install access road; change of use of land to site caravan pod; install private wastewater system.
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
Related guides
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