THE 1987 USE CLASSES ORDER — DOES IT ACHIEVE ITS AIMS? Available to Purchase

In order to reduce the number of changes of use that would otherwise constitute ‘development’, successive Use Classes Orders have laid down the framework within which uses can be freely exchanged without constituting development. In 1985, the Government requested the Property Advisory Group (PAG) to review and make recommendations on ways in which the 1972 Order needed amendment. After further consultation the Government issued the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. The Order took effect on 1st June, 1987, from which date the previous Order was revoked. The aim of the new order is: ‘(i) to reduce the number of classes while retaining effective control over changes of use which, because of environmental consequences or relationship with other uses, need to be subject to specific planning applications; and ’ (ii) to ensure that the scope of each class is wide enough to take in changes of use which generally do not need to be subject to specific control. Whether the Government has succeeded in its aims — and we have a serious reservation — will take time to evaluate. In the meantime, the 1987 Order is of immediate interest, particularly to business users of property. This paper seeks to identify the nature of the changes and their possible effect on existing leases. A table of the relationships between the 1972 and 1987 Orders is on pp. 251–53.