Advice on planning class

[JBB77]

Good morning everyone,

 

I have 2 unused agricultural buildings that have been used for domestic storage for the last 20+ years.

 

I would like to rent these buildings out for storage.

 

Assuming we could get a lawful development certificate awarded for domestic use, would the use class change if I rented these buildings out to other private individuals for their own domestic storage?

 

I don’t understand if the buildings become commercial storage because I am renting them out, or if they would still be considered domestic, because they would be used to store domestic goods (private caravans, boats, cars, trailers, household storage etc just someone else’s) 

 

I have been given advice that they would become commercial if rented them out. But if I had a house that I decided to rent out, my understanding is that the use class remains as C3, so not sure how this is any different.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks - James.

 

 

[Temp]

If they have been used for domestic storage for 20 years it's too late for the planners to take enforcement action so a certificate of lawfulness should be granted. The problem you might have is proving that.

 

Would the buildings be suitable for conversion to houses? If so they might qualify for planning permission under Class Q permitted development. In the right place they could be quite valuable. However Class Q requires them to have been in agricultural use for 10 years.

 

Might be worth taking advice from a planning consultant to maximise the development potential before you approach the planners.

 

Sorry if you know this stuff already.