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 authorises changes between use classes in certain cases. 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. The new UCO was introduced in 1987, and this has been amended on several occasions, in particular by the Town and Country Planning Order 1995, which added to the 'development' which can be undertaken without first gaining planning consent and by the Amendment Order 200.
