Change of Use Drawings in London | Fixed Fee, 7 Days
C3 to C4, flat conversions and prior-approval routes — change of use, drawn and evidenced.
A change of use — converting a house into flats, a shop into a flat, or adding a lodger room that tips a home into a small HMO — is governed by the Use Classes Order, which groups land and buildings into classes such as C3 (dwellinghouses), C4 (small shared houses) and E (commercial, business and service uses), plus a handful of uses that sit outside any class, known as sui generis. Whether you need a full planning application, a prior-approval notification, or nothing at all depends on which classes the 'before' and 'after' uses fall into, and whether your permitted development rights have been restricted locally.
DrawingsDirect prepares the drawings and supporting information a London borough needs to assess a change of use — existing and proposed floor plans, a use and amenity statement, and where relevant a parking and refuse strategy — and advises which route applies before you commit to an application. We cover conversions into flats, commercial-to-residential schemes under the prior-approval Class MA route, and other changes of use across all 33 London boroughs.
Fixed fees from £1,200 · Drawings in ~7 days · Free redraws to approval.
What counts as a material change of use?
Not every change in how a building is used needs planning permission — only a 'material' change, one significant enough to affect the character of the use of the land. Converting a single dwellinghouse into two or more flats is always material. Adding paying lodgers within a single household usually is not, until the household tips over into a small House in Multiple Occupation. We assess whether your proposed change crosses that threshold before recommending a route.
The Use Classes Order: C3, C4, E and sui generis
The Use Classes Order groups uses so planners, and permitted development rules, can treat similar activities consistently.
C3 — Dwellinghouses
The class covering a single household living as a single unit, including up to two people living together as a single household who are not related. Most family homes and self-contained flats fall here.
C4 — Houses in multiple occupation (small)
Covers a shared house or flat occupied by three to six unrelated people sharing basic amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom. Moving from C3 to C4 is a change of use, though it is often permitted development unless your borough has removed that right.
Class E — Commercial, business and service
A wide class combining shops, offices, gyms, cafes and other business uses that can change between each other without planning permission, but changing from Class E to residential use is a material change requiring the prior-approval or full planning route.
Sui generis
Uses that do not fit any class, including large HMOs of seven or more unrelated occupants, betting shops and drinking establishments. A change of use to or from a sui generis use normally needs planning permission.
Do I need full planning permission or can I use prior approval?
Some changes of use are permitted development subject to a prior-approval application rather than full planning permission — the best-known example is Class MA, which allows certain Class E commercial premises to become residential (C3) subject to the council assessing specific matters such as flooding, contamination and noise, without a full application. Other changes, including most conversions of a house into self-contained flats, fall outside any prior-approval route and need full householder or full planning permission. We identify which route applies to your building before drawing anything.
What drawings does a change-of-use application need?
A change-of-use submission needs accurate existing and proposed floor plans showing room layouts and areas, a written statement explaining the proposed use and how it meets the council's standards, and — for conversions into flats or an HMO — evidence that each unit meets minimum space and amenity standards. Where parking or refuse storage is a material consideration, we prepare a supporting plan showing how the scheme accommodates it.
- Existing and proposed floor plans with room areas
- Written use and planning statement
- Parking, cycle storage and refuse strategy where relevant
- Prior-approval or full application forms, submitted via the Planning Portal
Parking, amenity and residential standards councils check
London boroughs assess a change of use against residential standards covering minimum room sizes, outlook, daylight and outdoor amenity space, alongside the impact of additional parking demand on the street. A scheme that meets national space standards and provides for cycle and refuse storage is far more likely to secure approval first time, which is why we design to these standards from the first floor-plan sketch rather than retrofitting compliance after a council raises it.
| Route | When it applies | Typical package | Fee from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prior approval (Class MA) | Class E commercial to residential, meeting the criteria | Prior-approval drawings and statement | £1,200 |
| Full planning permission | Conversion into flats, HMO or use outside prior approval | Planning + building regs | £1,600–£2,400 |
| No application needed | Use falls within an existing permitted class change | Drawings for record purposes only | £450 |
Change of Use Drawings in your London borough
Local planning constraints, conservation areas and Article 4 notes for each council.
Complete your drawing package
Houses converted into self-contained flats, drawn for planning and building regs.HMO Conversion Drawings
C4 small HMOs and sui generis large HMOs — drawn to licensing and Article 4 planning standards.Planning Permission
Chartered planning drawings and application management for every London borough.
Change of Use Drawings — frequently asked questions
How much do change of use drawings cost in London?+
What is the difference between a material change of use and general permitted development?+
How long does a change of use application take to be decided?+
Do I need an architect for a change of use application?+
Will converting my house into flats need building regulations approval too?+
Ready for change of use drawings that get approved?
Tell us your London address and project. We'll confirm feasibility and a fixed fee within one working day — with a free planning appraisal of your property's potential.