Class Sui Generis — Hot Food Takeaway
Hot food takeaways are Sui Generis uses — they fall outside any use class and always require full planning permission for a new opening or any change of use. Councils carefully assess their impact on health, residential amenity, litter, and odours. Many local plans contain policies restricting new takeaways within a set distance of schools or in areas with an existing concentration of such uses.
Examples of Class Sui Generis Uses
Fish and chip shops |
Kebab and burger takeaways |
Fried chicken shops |
Chinese and Indian takeaways |
Pizza delivery premises |
Sushi takeaway counters |
Change of Use Rules
Any new hot food takeaway requires full planning permission — there is no permitted development right.
Change from Class E (e.g. shop or café) to hot food takeaway requires planning permission.
Change from hot food takeaway back to Class E (shop, café without hot food) requires planning permission.
Planning permission may be refused near schools under hot food proximity policies adopted by many councils.
Cumulative impact policies may result in refusal where there is already a high concentration of takeaways in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need to make a change of use application?
Find out what you need to submit and how much it costs.
Other Use Classes
Commercial, Business and Service
Class F.1Learning and Non-Residential Institutions
Class F.2Local Community Use
Class C1Hotels
Class C2Residential Institutions
Class C3Dwellinghouses