Change of Use planning permission examples — what gets approved & refused
151,903 real decisions from 321 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: August 2026
78.2%
approval rate across 151,903 decisions
That means roughly 1 in 5 change of use applications are refused — often due to avoidable design issues.
151,903
Decisions
118,725
Approved
33,178
Refused
321
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
Certificate of lawfulness for a proposed change of use of an existing C3 Dwellinghouse to a C4, 4 bedroom, 4 person House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and addition of single storey rear extension
▸ Single-storey extensions face less scrutiny than two-storey.
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.
Refused
Retrospective application for the change of use of existing detached garden studio to seperate detached one bedroom dwelling.
Refused
Change of use of existing amenity verge to residential curtilage to facilitate construction of two-storey side extension with front dormer; demolition of existing flank boundary wall and erection of new fence to extend private rear garden; removal of existing trees; new side pathway, landscaping and
▸ Two-storey extensions face higher scrutiny due to greater neighbour impact.
Approved
Change of use of an existing agricultural building to 1no. one bedroom dwellinghouse (Use Class C3)
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
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
APP/2012/0894
Approved
Non material amendment - Construction of two storey extension and glazed timber lean-to to rear (east) elevation (amendment to application FUL/2008/1094 granting approval for change of use of former industrial unit to dwellinghouse)
▸ Two-storey approvals often involve setbacks from boundaries and matching materials.
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 two agricultural buildings to form 10 dwellings (Class C3), comprising: (i) conversion of Building A to form 8 dwellings; and (ii) conversion of Building B to form 2 dwellings, including the erection of a single-storey rear extension (4m depth) to Building B and building operations
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.
Refused
Full planning permission for the partial change of use of approximately 19.25 square metres of the existing residential property (Use Class C3) to a hot food takeaway (Sui Generis) with associated works.
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
Change of use of dwelling to a residential home for up to three children with two full time carers sleeping overnight and living together as a single household
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.
Approved
Application for Prior Approval under Class O, Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) for the change of use of the existing office accommodation to provide 150no. residential units.
▸ Prior approval applications that meet the criteria are rarely refused.
Still scrolling?
You’re looking at national data. 22% 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 →
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, alteration and extension of former kennels to a single dwellinghouse, installation of oil tank and installation of septic tank and soakaway
Approved
change of use of paddock to garden and creation of vehicular access and driveway to serve existing dwelling
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
Discharge of Condition 2 (Travel Plan Statement) of planning permission 5/2025/1213 dated 13/08/2025 for Prior Appoval - Change of use of part of the existing undercroft to 11 residential apartments (Use Class C3)
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.
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 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
Lawful Development Certificate (proposed)- Change Of Use From A Dwelling To A 4 Person Hmo
Approved
Change of use from previous vehicle repair workshop to domestic. To develop 4 residential properties.
Approved
Prior Notification for the change of use of an agricultural building to a flexible commercial use (commercial storage)
Approved
Change of use of former railway line to public footpath/cycletrack
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 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
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
Amalgamation of commercial units and change of use to reformer pilates studio (Class 11).
23/00418/FLL
Approved
Change of use, alterations and extension to steading to form dwellinghouse
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.
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 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 to form two pitch traveller site with erection of 2 ancillary buildings and 2 double garages
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
Redevelopment and change of use from of No.10 Holiday Homes to No.9 market dwellings
Refused
Non-material amendment to planning permission 18/01071/FUL (Change of use of building to holiday use with new porch and decking area) to change the position of one window, revise the roofline pitch, construction to SAP A or SAP B to include solar panels, batteries and heat pump and reduction of one
Refused
Install access road; change of use of land to site caravan pod; install private wastewater system.
Refused
Change of use from B2 (General Industrial) and B8 (Storage & Distribution) to Class E (Commercial, Business and Service) (resubmission following BR/114/23/PL). This application is in CIL Zone 4 (Zero Rated) as other development.
Refused
Change of use of the land for the stationing of mobile home for residential purposes to assist with management of livestock on the site
Refused
Change of use from A1 (retail) to A2 (financial and professional services).
Refused
Change of use from class 1 (retail) to form hot food takeaway
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 of Public Space to Garden Ground
Related guides
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