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Change of use & HMOs

Commercial to residential

Turning offices, shops and other commercial buildings into homes, through prior approval where the rules allow, or a full planning application where they don't.

Benjamin Plunkett, Managing Director
โœ“Free home visit โœ“No obligation โœ“Honest advice โœ“Fixed price Ben, our Managing Director and Planning & Heritage Consultant, will visit your property anywhere in our six council areas.
Floor plans for an HMO conversion

Two routes

Prior approval (Class MA). Some commercial, business and service buildings can become homes under permitted development, subject to prior approval on matters such as transport, contamination, flooding, noise, natural light and, in conservation areas, the effect of losing a ground-floor commercial use. There are conditions on the building's previous use and floorspace.

Full planning permission. Needed where prior approval doesn't apply, or where the scheme also includes extensions or external changes.

How we help

We check which route is available, survey the building, design layouts that meet the national space standard and give every habitable room adequate light, and prepare the application.

Benjamin PlunkettCharlie Plunkett

Who'll handle your project: Benjamin Plunkett, our Managing Director and Planning & Heritage Consultant, is your point of contact from the first site visit to the decision. Charlie Plunkett MCIAT produces the drawings.

About us
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do the new homes have to meet space standards?

Yes. Homes created through prior approval must meet the nationally described space standard, and all habitable rooms need adequate natural light.

Can I add an extra storey at the same time?

That usually needs a separate permission. We can advise on combining routes.

Benjamin Plunkett, Managing Director
Free home visit

Thinking about a project?

Ben, our Managing Director and Planning & Heritage Consultant, will come to you, look at the property and tell you honestly what's likely to get approved. Free, with no obligation, anywhere in Tendring, Babergh, Colchester, Braintree, Maldon and Ipswich districts.

Planning consultants and chartered designers in one team: drawings designed to get approved, with the same people from site visit to decision.

๐Ÿ“ž CallBook a free visit