Check the planning history of a building or piece of land

Planning use classes are the legal framework that state what a property or piece of land can be used for.

Find out more about use classes on the Planning Portal.

It can be hard to identify the permitted use of a building or piece of land because its history might be complicated. For example, planning permission may have been granted in the past, but the works or change may not have happened.

You can search for a planning decision (2005 onwards) to check existing permissions. This may identify what the current use class is.

For earlier decisions, you can search for a planning decision (1947 to 2005) if you know the reference number. If you don't, you'll need to apply for a planning history search.

If you’re not sure, or you need confirmation, you can apply for a lawful development certificate.