Line illustration of a glazed commercial shopfront elevation

Commercial planning and change of use

I work with business owners, landlords and developers on commercial projects and on change of use schemes that convert a building from one use to another. As an ARB-registered architect, I set the planning strategy out early so the design and the application work together from the start.

My commercial work runs from small shopfront and signage changes through full conversions to new commercial space, including projects on sensitive and protected sites. I work across Kent, London and the South East, and nationwide where a project suits remote working.

What I cover

Change of use between commercial uses, and from commercial to residential, including shop or office to residential and the partial conversion of a restaurant or commercial building to flats.
Change of use to a specialist (Sui Generis) use, such as a shop to a nail salon, with the advertisement and shop signage consent to match.
Cafe, restaurant and retail extensions and refurbishments, including schemes on sites within a National Landscape (formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
Mixed-use schemes that combine retail, leisure and residential space in a single building.
Conversion and adaptive reuse of redundant commercial buildings such as warehouses, showrooms and former shops.
Feasibility studies and pre-application design for commercial redevelopment, including sensitively scaled schemes on rural and designated sites.
Shopfront alterations, signage and advertisement consent.
Internal fit-out taken through building regulations and building control to completion.

How I approach it

I start with a design consultation to understand the business and what the space needs to do, then study the site, its history and the use you are moving from or to.

Change of use turns on the detail. I look at the use class and whether the work falls under permitted development, a prior approval application, a full planning application, or a lawful development certificate (an LDC, which confirms what is already lawful). I also weigh the conditions a change of use is judged on: daylight and outlook, noise, servicing and refuse, transport and access, and any contamination on the site.

From there I take the project through feasibility, design and a full drawing package for the application, and on into the building regulations and building control stage to completion. On complex or designated sites, such as a conservation area or a National Landscape, I will recommend bringing in a planning consultant to work alongside me, which I have done to good effect on several schemes.

I give you a straight, honest view of the prospects before you commit, rather than make promises about an outcome that no planning application can offer.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do I need planning permission to change the use of a commercial building?

It depends on the existing use and the use you want. Some changes fall within the same use class and need no permission, others need a prior approval application or a full planning application. I check the right route before any drawings are prepared.

Can a shop or office be converted to residential?

In many cases yes, often through permitted development, though it is subject to conditions such as daylight, room sizes, noise and access. I check whether your building qualifies and prepare the application either way.

Do I need separate consent for a new shopfront or sign?

Often yes. Shopfront alterations can need planning permission, and most signage needs advertisement consent, which is a separate application. I can handle both together, as I did on a recent salon fit-out.

Can you get permission for a commercial scheme in a National Landscape?

A designated area such as a National Landscape is more sensitive, so design, scale and materials matter more. I have secured permission for commercial schemes within National Landscapes, often working alongside a planning consultant on the more complex cases.