The short answer, is that in many circumstances you don’t need planning permission. But, as is often the case the devil is in the detail. Shops, cafés, gyms and offices all sit within the planning use Class E (of the Use Classes Order). So, moving between these uses is generally not classed as a ‘material change of use’. And therefore does not require planning permission.
There are some exceptions however. Moving a unit out of industrial or warehouse use into a gym or café is a change of use, as is moving into a use outside Class E, such as a pub or a hot food takeaway.
External works can also need consent, such as a new extraction flue, a changed shopfront or a plant enclosure. And, if the building is in a consevration area or is listed then it may also require consent.
Always read the conditions on the existing planning permission. Opening hours, noise limits and restrictions on use can apply, and as the next occupier you are bound to the rules. There may be other ‘planning conditions’ stipulated in the planning permission that can also be easy to miss.
Check the existing use, the proposed use and any planning conditions before you sign a lease. It is one of the easiest checks you can make, and it can affect the programme and viability more than almost anything else.
See also:
Commercial Fit-Out, Week by Week
