Change of Use planning permission examples — what gets approved & refused
147,798 real decisions from 290 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: September 2026
Category-level approval rates for these examples are currently withheld while we re-check how decisions are sorted into project types. Each decision below is a real record from the council’s own planning portal and links to it. Council-level approval rates are unaffected and remain on the council pages.
That means roughly 1 in 5 change of use applications are refused — often due to avoidable design issues.
147,798
Decisions
116,155
Approved
31,643
Refused
290
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
⚠️ 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 Industrial (Use Class B2) to car sales showroom, offices and body workshop. External works to existing structure including new window and door openings all round and new cladding. New gates and 2.4Metre high timber fencing all round
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
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
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
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)
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.
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
Change of use, alteration and conversion of redundant buildings to holiday lets, gym and sauna, replacement windows, doors and rooflights to existing holiday cottages and pool and replacement rainwater goods
Approved
Change of Use from Children's Centre Office Accommodation (B1a Use) to Non-Residential Institution (D1 Use) for Nursery Accommodation, Enclosure of Veranda with Timber Cladding to Match Existing to Form WC Facilities and Retention of Building and Car Parking Previously Permitted under 09/00080/R3C
Approved
Prior Notification: Change of use from former brick cow shed to form single dwellinghouse, including partial demolition, minor extensions and installation of new windows and doors within existing openings
Approved
Application for a Non-Material Amendment to Planning Permission ref: 25/01022/FUL (Conversion of an existing garage into a habitable space, erection of single storey rear extension and change of use from single dwelling house to 2no. self-contained flats. Installation of 2nos front rooflights). Amen
Approved
Proposed part two storey, part single storey rear extension. Hip to gable loft conversion with rear dormer to rear and rooflights to front. Existing parapet to front bay replaced with gable end. Extensions to facilitate change of use from C4 (HMO up to 6 occupants) to a 7 bed HMO (Sui Generis).
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
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.
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 →
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
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)
Approved
Change of use of first and second floors to residential accommodation to comprise 1no. 1 bedroom apartment and 2no. 2 bedroom apartments (Prior Approval)
Approved
Prior Approval Application under Part 3, Class MA of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) for proposed Change of Use of Existing Upper Floors from Commercial Use (Class E) to Residential Use (Class C3).
20/00526/FUL
Approved
Change of use of shipping container from storage to summer house with full amenities ancillary to existing dwelling house
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
Retention Of Existing Public Telephone Kiosk & Change Of Use To Form Combined Public Payphone And ATM.
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 business (Class 4) to dental surgery (Class 1A) and formation of four swan external lights
Approved
Change of use to bitumen testing laboratory, offices and research facilities (referral from Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council)
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
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
Prior approval for change of use from agricultural building to dwellinghouse.
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)
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
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
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)
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
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
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 of first floor (Use Class E) to one self-contained flat (Use Class C3)
Refused
Change of use to form two pitch traveller site with erection of 2 ancillary buildings and 2 double garages
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
Change of use planning permission explainedBefore you spend £2,000+ on drawings — and risk getting refused
Your council may refuse the exact thing that got approved two boroughs away. See what actually gets approved near your property first.
Free check — see real decisions near your home →Don’t rely on national averages — see what happens on your street.
✓ Free
✓ Property-specific PDF