Commercial
If you own any type of commercial property – office, factory, retail, warehouse or industrial unit – and are struggling to find tenants or perhaps maintenance costs are becoming too much or the outcome of a recent rates review has left you questioning your current situation, our experts can help you review your options.
It may be that you’re simply looking to liquidate your assets and are heading towards retirement. Whatever the circumstances you find yourself in, there will be a number of choices you can make regarding your property and land, which our experts will be able to help you with.
One area to consider is to change the use of your property, for example, convert it to residential use, retail or leisure use.
As all commercial properties have what’s called a ‘use class’, you will often have to get planning permission from the local planning authority if you want to change that use class.
Be warned that if your project needs planning permission and you do the work without getting planning permission first, you can be served with an ‘enforcement notice’ ordering you to undo all the alterations you have made - an expensive mistake to make, which is why it’s advisable to call in the experts.
Under The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, there are four main categories of use class are:
Class A:
shops & other retail premises such as banks & restaurants
Class B:
offices, factories, workshops and warehouses
Class C:
residential,
hotels and
hostels
Class D:
non-residential institutions, assembly & leisure uses
Converting commercial premises into residential dwellings can be a complicated process. Our extensive planning experience means that we will be able to advise you every step of the way.
However, even if the change is permitted, it may not be enough to guarantee the premises can be used for its proposed purpose as other restrictions and factors can come into play. Our advisers have dealt with issues like this before, for example, when the lease includes a clause that prohibits the building being used for a particular use class or if the property is a listed building.
If you would like a free appraisal or have any queries related to the sale or change of use of your commercial premises, please call the Land Buying Experts on 01202 684400 or email us at info@landbuyingexperts.co.uk.
