On 1 September 2020, the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) will come into force, making far reaching amendments to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (UCO). Whilst the UCO has been amended several times since its introduction in 1987, these are the most significant reforms to use classes since that date.
These changes follow a public consultation in October 2018 (Planning reform: supporting the high street and increasing the supply of new homes), after which the government announced that Use Class A1 would be reformed to “capture current and future retail models”. However, the reforms that have been implemented go further and deeper than those consulted upon, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on high streets and retail businesses.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will publish guidance on these changes to the UCO in due course. Pending publication of this guidance, the HSF Planning Team has produced an FAQ fact sheet outlining the changes made to the UCO as it applies in England, providing practical advice to landowners and developers, and evaluating the impact of the changes on the commercial property sector. If you would like to receive a copy of this briefing, please contact us.
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The articles published on this website, current at the dates of publication set out above, are for reference purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action.