Property Use Classes

What are property use classes?

Property use classes are the legal framework which determine a specific use a property may be used for by its lawful occupants. The use classes were amended in September 2020 from the original Town and Country Planning Order 1987. Please see further guidance below on those use classes that we focus on at Alex Martin Commercial.

E Use

Including clinic, nursery, medical, gyms, retail and offices.

F1 Use

Learning and non-residential institutions including education and place of worship.

F2 Use

Local community buildings including community centres and recreation grounds.

Sui Generis

Buildings which don’t fall within a specific use including bingo halls, theatres and cinemas.

Property Uses	Old	New
Clinics, health centres, crèches, day nurseries, day centre	D1	E
Schools, non-residential education and training centres, museums, public libraries, public halls, exhibition halls, places of worship, law courts	D1	F.1
Cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls and dance halls	D2	Sui Generis
Gymnasiums, indoor recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms	D2	E
Hall or meeting place for the principal use of the local community	D2	F.2
Indoor or outdoor swimming baths, skating rinks, and outdoor sports or recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms	D2	F.2