Change of Use to Properties is often a Requirement that may affect Owners

1. Change of Use to Properties is often a Requirement that may affect Owners It is important to understand your local authority’s laws with regard to what is allowed – and what not – when it comes to what a property may be used for. Therefore one has to understand what change of use planning permission is about. In any town or city in the UK and other developed societies there are certain rules enforced by governments and local authorities to ensure that properties are used in the way that they are intended for, for example either as a home unit, therefore as a residential unit, or as a commercial unit or building. Different local authorities and councils may have different requirements in terms of what a building or unit in a building may be used for. Some may allow owners and/or tenants to use a property either as a residential unit or as a commercial unit, but that may not always be what the owner wants, and therefore certain changes of use planning permissions may be required to ensure you do indeed have permission in terms of what you use your unit for to abide by the laws of the local council where your property is situated. This is because some local authorities may be very strict in this regard and limit the use of units to either of the options – not both. It all depends on the council. There are also some cases where a building or unit may be used for either purpose. It is always best to understand the regulation’s in one’s town, village or city – and especially in your local council. Presumably most owners understand what their property may be used for (either residential or commercial) and therefore they will also know when they need planning permission fora change of use. Say, for example, you want to change the use of your property which allows only residential use, to use as a commercial unit. You will indeed need permission from the local authorities because commercial properties are characterized by businesses being operated. This may change the face of the area and cause other owners distress when, for example, there are suddenly many more cars in the

2. street, leading to more limited parking, noise such as from restaurants and other concerns and loud voices till all hours of the night. To get this kind of permission may not be easy, but with assistance there may be cases that the authorities consider positively. Change of use planning permission is best achieved by talking to the professionals such as town planners that deal with these issues all the time. They know who to approach and how to present an applicant’s case in order to find a solution that suits all parties. One has to work through the correct channels whether you use a town planner or net. The planner just makes the process much easier for the client since he/she understands the laws and requirements that much better. The town planner has the knowledge and experience to advise the applicant how to go about matters for the best chance at success. Planning permission for a change of use is required by all local authorities and depending on the change you are applying for, there are different considerations to be taken into account. Very few property owners have the knowledge and most do not always understand what is required. The town planner offers the service to assist. He/she will know, in the borough or local council area wherever they work, what the different requirements for different requests are and advise clients accordingly. Also, many of these requirements change or are amended from time to time – once again, the town planner works with these issues all the time and will know what applies at any given time. Planning permission for a change of use in one area may be different from another because different councils have different requirements. It is important to understand we are all responsible for adhering to our local laws whether we want to change the use from residential to commercial or vice versa. About Us WEA Planning are town and country planners known throughout all West and North London boroughs for their town planning advice to assist clients in terms of the best practices with regard to changes of use, lawful development certificates needed as well as all extensions which are subject to permission. They work as town planning advisors for local authorities, architects, individual clients and various other planning consultants. They offer expertise with regard to both residential and commercial town planning advice and operate under the leadership of Director Will Avery who is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. For more about WEA Planning please visit http://www.weaplanning.co.uk/