General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) Amendments

• Posted by David Jones on 29th Apr ’10 at 16:08 UTC
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Expanded permitted development for Industrial/Commercial Developments

New regulations came into force on 6 April 2010 expanding the extent to which certain non domestic premises may be extended without the need to apply for planning consent. The general Permitted Development Order (GPDO) revisions include the following classes of development:

Dealing with each in turn, the revised provisions for industrial and warehouse buildings allows for new extensions up to 100 square metres in floor area where all conditions set out in the order are met.

Industrial and Warehouse Development, Schools, colleges, universities and hospitals, office buildings, shops, catering, financial or professional services establishments, together with amended provisions for the newly-created Use Class C4 (homes in multiple occupation) HMO Revisions.

This revised order continues the Government′s aim to relax planning controls where no useful purpose is served.

Hopefully, unlike the drafters of the amended GPDO regulations for residential development, the interpretation of the regulations will be much clearer with fewer areas open to interpretation.

This change could prove useful for owners of commercial premises to expand operations without the need to get embroiled in the red tape of the planning system.

Similar provisions have been extended to include schools. Colleges, universities, hospitals, here again a 100 square metre limit has been imposed.

With regard to office buildings the revised order allows extension up to 25% of the gross floor space of the original building or 50 square metres (whichever is the lesser)

In most cases an extension of 5 metres by 10 metres would be permissible subject to meeting the other criteria of the order. Similar provisions apply to shops, catering, financial or professional services establishments (Use Classes A1, A2, A3 and A4) again a 50 square metre limitation applies.

With regard to HMO′s and the newly-introduced Use Class C4, the drafters of the order have chosen to include within the GPDO revision, the Use Class ratchet which allows change of use from Use Class C4 (houses in multiple occupation) to Use Class C3 (dwelling house) without the need to obtain planning permission. It is to be noted that this is a one-way ratchet only, and therefore whilst it is permissible to change from Use Class C4 to C3, it is not permissible to reverse this change once made.

David Jones, Head of Planning at Evans Jones LLP comments

“Whilst any relaxation of policy which removes ‘red tape’ for business is to be encouraged, it is questionable whether in reality the revised provisions will actually apply in many instances.

There are certainly some businesses which would benefit and for which removing the requirement to obtain planning permission will help that business and remove unnecessary red tape.”

For further information upon the implementation of the revised order, or indeed and planning-related enquiry, please contact David Jones 01242 531411 or E-mail

For more information about out planning services, and for more news stories, please read our website at Evans Jones LLP Planning