HC Deb 10 June 1985 vol 80 c311W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to make it easier for firms to change the use of commercial premises.

Mr. MacFarlane

Any change of use which is not material in planning terms, a use ancillary to the main use of a building, or any change of use falling within one of the classes of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1972, does not require a planning application.

Amendments to the General Development Order in 1981 permitted a number of further changes to use of commercial buildings without specific planning consent. I have also announced proposals, which would require legislation, to enable planning authorities to grant permissions which would allow for subsequent changes between different uses on a site.