Property & Land Use Classes in Scotland

Property and land use classes in Scotland under the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997 (as amended) and Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Scotland Order 1992 (as amended) including common permitted changes of use.

USE CLASS	DESCRIPTION	PERMITTED CHANGE
Class 1A Shops and financial, professional and other services	Retail sale of goods other than hot food Post office Sale of tickets Travel agency Cold and hot drink takeway Cold food takeaway Veterinary practice Hairdresser Tanning salon Funeral director Display of goods for sale Hiring of domestic or personal goods Laundrette/dry cleaners Reception of goods for cleaning/repair Financial services such as banks and building societies Professional services such as estate and employment agencies Other services appropriate in a shopping area	Permitted change to Class 3 unless it would result in the change of use of a building unit situated below any part of a dwelling, or is within 1 metre of a dwelling (without taking account of any communal access); or Permitted change to Class 4 of a building up to 300 sq m.
Sui generis	Car showroom Taxi or vehicle hire business Betting office Payday loan shop	Permitted change to a building of up to 235 sq m or land (without restriction) to Class 1A. No permitted change. Permitted change to Class 1A; or Permitted change to Class 3 unless it would result in the change of use of a building unit situated below any part of a dwelling, or is within 1 metre of a dwelling (without taking account of any communal access); or Permitted change to Class 4 of a building up to 300 sq m. Permitted change to Class 1A; or Permitted change to Class 3 unless it would result in the change of use of a building unit situated below any part of a dwelling, or is within 1 metre of a dwelling (without taking account of any communal access); or Permitted change to Class 4 of a building up to 300 sq m.
Class 3 Food and drink	Cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, sale of food or drink for consumption on the premises	Permitted change to Class 1A; or Permitted change to Class 4 of a building unit with a floor area of 300 sq m or less.
Sui generis	Public houses Hot food takeaways	No permitted change. Permitted change to Class 1A; or Permitted change to Class 3 unless it would result in the change of use of a building unit situated below any part of a dwelling, or it would result in the change of use of a building unit which is within 1 metre of a dwelling (without taking account of any communal access); or Permitted change to Class 4 of a building up to 300 sq m.
Class 4 Business	Offices not within Class 1A Research and development of products or processes Light industry	Permitted change to a building up to 235 sq m or land (without restriction) to Class 6. If a premises changed to Class 4 from Class 1A or 3 under permitted development rights, it retains the right to change back to its original class.
Class 5 General industry	Industrial processes not within Class 4 such as heavy industry, vehicle repair, car wash	Permitted change to Class 4; or Permitted change to a building up to 235 sq m or land (without restriction) to Class 6.
Class 6 Storage or distribution	Storage or distribution such as self-storage units, storage warehouse, parcel distribution depot	Permitted change to class 4.
Class 7 Hotels and hostels	Hotels, boarding houses, guest houses, hostels where no significant element of care is provided	No permitted change.
Class 8 Residential institutions	Provision of residential accommodation and care outwith Class 9 Hospital, nursing home Residential school, college, training centre	No permitted change.
Class 9 Houses	House occupied by a single person, or a number living together as a family House occupied by five residents or less Limited use as bed and breakfast or guesthouse where at any one time not more than two bedrooms (one bedroom in premises of less than four bedrooms) are used by guests	No permitted change.
Sui generis	Flats Student accommodation (purpose-built or conversion)	No permitted change.
Class 10 Non-residential institutions	Crèches, day nurseries, day centres Schools and colleges Art galleries, museums, exhibition halls, public libraries or exhibition halls Places for social activities of a religious body	No permitted change.
Class 11 Assembly and leisure	Cinema Concert hall Bingo hall, casino Indoor or outdoor sports/recreation (not involving motor vehicles or firearms) Dance hall, discotheque Yoga studio (or pilates etc.) Gym (fitness, climbing, etc.) Skating rink and swimming baths	No permitted change.
Sui generis	Theatre Amusement centre Data centres Sale of fuel for motor vehicles Scarpyard or yard for the breaking of motor vehicles Work registrable under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act 1906(2) Waste disposal installation for the incineration, chemical treatment or landfill of waste Storage or distribution of minerals Car parks Places for motor vehicle recreation or firearm sport	No permitted change.

Property & Land Use Classes in Scotland

How Ryden Can Help