ABSTRACT
The Use Classes Order (UCO) 1987 places groups of uses, known as ‘classes’, together and provides the opportunity to change from one use to any other within that particular group without the need to gain express planning permission. The Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) 1995 (see Chapter 10) authorises changes between use classes in certain cases. The rationale for the groupings is first, that the uses contained within them are similar in planning terms, and secondly, that the flexibility to change from one class to another is on the basis of a ‘trade-up’ in that the new class is more acceptable in planning terms. The flexibility afforded by the UCO and GPDO also reduces the number of planning applications which would otherwise fall to be determined by the local planning authority and should, at least in theory, assist in speeding up the planning process.
