Services / Change of use
Change of use
Applications to change the use of a building, such as shop to home or office to flats, including prior approval where it applies.
- FreeInitial consultationA conversation about your project, and a first view of what's possible, before any fee is agreed.
- FixedFee for each stageEvery stage is priced in writing before it starts. No hourly billing.
- 3DSee the design firstYour design is shown in 3D before it's submitted, while changes are still easy.
- FreeResubmissionIf planning is refused, we revise and resubmit at no extra design fee. Conditions
What we draw
Planning application
Where the change needs full planning permission.
Prior approval
Some changes, such as certain commercial-to-residential conversions, follow a quicker prior approval route.
Houses in multiple occupation
A small HMO for three to six people, or a large HMO for seven or more, which always needs planning permission.
Commercial to residential
Converting a shop, office or other commercial building into flats, by planning application or prior approval.
Shops, offices and warehouses
Alterations and changes of use for commercial units, including shopfronts and conversions to homes.
Before you start
What we need, and what sits outside our fee
- From you: the property address, a few photos, and any existing drawings, planning approvals or surveys you have. We arrange the measured survey with you.
- Not in our fee: council planning and building control fees, and specialist reports a council asks for, such as a tree survey or flood risk assessment, unless your fee proposal lists them.
- Your fee proposal sets out exactly what is included for your project before any work starts.
Timescales
How long it takes
We give you a timetable for our drawings in your fee proposal. Council and building control timings are the statutory or target periods and start once an application is validated.
- Planning application
- Target of 8 weeks after validation
- Commercial to residential prior approval (Class MA)
- 56 days
- Building regulations full plans
- 5 weeks, or up to 2 months if you agree
Projects
Change of use we have designed
Common questions
How do I know which route applies?
It depends on the current use, the proposed use and any local restrictions. We check before quoting.
Do I need permission to turn a house into an HMO?
For a small HMO of three to six people, often not, because it is permitted development. Many London boroughs remove that right with an Article 4 direction, so we check your address first. A large HMO for seven or more people always needs planning permission.
What is prior approval?
A quicker, narrower process for some changes of use that are permitted development. The council can only consider set matters, such as transport, flood risk, noise and daylight, and decides within 56 days for commercial to residential conversions.
Other services
- Free planning check
- House extensions
- Loft conversions
- Upward extensions
- Renovations and internal alterations
- Basement conversions
- Planning permission
- Lawful development certificates
- Pre-application advice
- Building regulations drawings
- Building control applications
- Structural calculations
- Structural surveys and letters of comfort
- Flat conversions
- Lease plans and licence to alter
- New builds
- Interior design
- 3D visualisation
- Energy and retrofit
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
- Accessible home adaptations
- Commercial fit-outs and shopfronts
- Design consultations
- Party wall surveys
- Build over agreements and drainage
- Planning reports and statements
- Amendments, conditions and regularisation
- Planning appeals
- Conservation areas and listed buildings
- Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
- HMO planning and licensing
- Feasibility and site checks
- Measured surveys
- Building surveys
- Drawing reviews and second opinions
- Location and block plans
- Tender and construction support
- Principal designer (CDM and building regulations)
- Cost management
- Project management
- Contract administration
- Design and build
- Turnkey projects
- Landscape design
Where we work
Change of use across London
Local planning points for the boroughs closest to our Cricklewood studio: Ealing, Harrow, Brent, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Haringey, Enfield, Barnet, Camden, Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea. See all 33 boroughs.