Class MA permitted development rights allow the conversion of commercial buildings — such as shops, offices, cafés, restaurants, health services, nurseries, gyms and leisure facilities — into residential homes without applying for full planning permission.
At a time when high streets are under pressure, Class MA offers a route to repurpose vacant and underused Class E buildings into much-needed housing, helping to revitalise town centres and support mixed-use communities.
With more than 6,000 shop closures across the UK in the last five years, rising business rates and long-term changes in consumer behaviour, the question many developers are now asking is simple:
Can Class MA help save the high street?
Changes to Class MA Permitted Development (March 2024)
Significant changes to Class MA came into effect on 5 March 2024, materially expanding what is now possible.
The key changes:
✅ The 1,500 sqm floorspace cap has been removed
✅ Buildings no longer need to be vacant for 3 months
✅ Larger units and entire buildings can now be converted
✅ Greater flexibility for mixed-use and phased conversions
Previously, Class MA conversions were limited in scale and often restricted to partial schemes. These updates remove two of the biggest barriers to delivery.
Changes to Class MA permitted development (March 2024)
Significant changes to Class MA came into effect on 5 March 2024, materially expanding what is now possible.
The key changes
- The 1,500 sqm floorspace cap has been removed
- Buildings no longer need to be vacant for 3 months
- Larger units and entire buildings can now be converted
- Greater flexibility for mixed-use and phased conversions
Previously, Class MA schemes were often constrained to partial conversions. These changes remove two of the biggest barriers to delivery.
How much can you develop under Class MA?
For applications submitted on or after 5 March 2024:
- There is no maximum floorspace limit
- There is no vacancy requirement
- Entire buildings can be converted
- Ground floor, upper floors, or a combination of both can be included
This opens the door to:
- large-format retail conversions
- department store and supermarket reuse
- full high-street block transformations
- vertical intensification above active ground floors
What to consider when considering Class MA opportunities?
When preparing submissions under Class MA, there are a few key things to be aware of:
- The property has to have been Use Class E for at least two years
- From March 4 2024 the requirement for buildings to have been vacant for 3 months has been scrapped.
- The development must be completed within 3 years of prior approval
- From March 4 2024 the previous floorspace limit of 1,500 sqm has been scrapped
- Conversion of health centres and nurseries requires an impact assessment first
- The usual places like listed buildings, scheduled monuments, sites of special scientific interest, safety hazard zones, land that comes under Article 2(3), and military explosives areas are still out, but you can make changes in conservation areas
- If a building requires additional windows, an additional planning application may need to be submitted
- There may be a fee of £100 - £5000 per new home
- Some local authorities are planning to bring in new Article 4 restrictions preventing parts of their area from being converted
What to consider when assessing Class MA opportunities
Although Class MA removes the need for full planning permission, it is not automatic. Proposals must meet defined eligibility rules and pass Prior Approval.
Key considerations include:
- The building must have been Use Class E for at least two years
- The 3-month vacancy requirement has been scrapped
- Development must be completed within 3 years of prior approval
- There is no longer a floorspace cap
- Conversion of health centres and nurseries requires an impact assessment
- Listed buildings, scheduled monuments, SSSIs, safety hazard zones, military explosives areas and Article 2(3) land remain excluded
- Conservation areas are permitted
- Additional windows may require a separate planning application
- A fee may apply of £100–£5,000 per new dwelling
- Some local authorities are introducing Article 4 directions restricting Class MA in certain locations
Class MA prior approval requirements
While Class MA avoids full planning permission, prior approval is still required.
Local authorities may assess:
- transport and highways impacts
- flood risk
- contamination risks
- noise impacts
- provision of adequate natural light
- nationally described space standards
- external appearance and window proposals
- impact on local service provision (for health centres and nurseries)
Why Class MA is particularly relevant right now
Class MA sits at the intersection of two national priorities:
- regenerating struggling high streets
- delivering more homes in accessible locations
For developers, it offers a faster route to consent, reduced planning risk and opportunities in locations with existing infrastructure.
How to find Class MA opportunities at scale
With Searchland, you can:
- instantly identify Class E buildings suitable for Class MA
- apply a one-click Class MA filter
- review plot size, constraints and planning context
- access ownership and title details
- contact landowners directly using in-platform letter sending
TL;DR: why Class MA matters
Class MA permitted development allows commercial buildings to be converted into homes without full planning permission.
Following the March 2024 changes, it now supports larger buildings, full conversions and faster delivery — making it one of the most impactful permitted development rights for high-street regeneration today.
While we might make this all sound easy, we know that in reality decisions can still go against you. Check out our in-depth review of 3 case studies to show where others went wrong (or right) with Class MA developments.
We’d recommend you jump on a demo with our team so you can experience our full set of features.
