England Use Classes Order • Community

    Use F.2: Class F.2 (Local Community)

    Small-scale local community uses including the local shop in rural settlements.

    Use this overview to plan your research. Verify current requirements and site-specific conditions against the relevant primary sources. Read our data sources, coverage and limits guide.

    Jurisdiction and source

    This guide covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different use-class and permitted-development rules. A use class is not permission for building works or proof that a change is lawful at a particular site.

    Use Classes Order — current legislation

    GOV.UK — use classes and when permission is required

    England GPDO — Part 3 changes of use

    Examples

    • Shops up to 280sqm selling essential goods more than 1km from a similar shop
    • Halls or meeting places for local community
    • Outdoor recreation areas
    • Indoor or outdoor swimming pools and skating rinks

    Potential change-of-use routes

    No permitted changes are listed in this summary. Check the current rules for the jurisdiction and site before deciding whether permission is required.

    Permission and prior-approval checks

    None typical

    Design notes

    Loss of F.2 use generally needs full planning permission with Asset of Community Value considerations.

    Policy reference

    Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended SI 2020/757), paragraph F.2

    Questions

    What is Use Class F.2?

    Small-scale local community uses including the local shop in rural settlements.

    Can I change use without planning permission from Class F.2?

    No changes are listed in this summary. Check the current rules and site-specific restrictions with the planning authority.

    Check use class against your site

    Explore available planning constraints for the address, then verify the applicable use class and any restrictions with the planning authority.

    Explore planning constraints

    Review current plans and usage and source coverage for your project.

    Related

    Use E: Class E (Commercial, Business and Service)

    Commercial

    Use F.1: Class F.1 (Learning and Non-Residential Institutions)

    Community

    Use C1: Class C1 (Hotels)

    Residential

    Use C2: Class C2 (Residential Institutions)

    Residential

    Use C2A: Class C2A (Secure Residential Institutions)

    Residential

    Use C3: Class C3 (Dwellinghouses)

    Residential