Change of use from B1 to D1

Borough

Address

Development Type

Change of Use

Proposed Development

Change of use from B1 (office) to D1 (non-residential educational and training centre), (Use Class E).

4D Planning's Role

4D Planning were instructed to change the use of a vacant office unit into educational and training centre. The Council refused to allow the loss of office space in this location due to a policy which protects office units. 4D Planning headed by Elie Osborne, negotiated with the planning officer and provided arguments in favour of the proposed change of use, that it was against planning policy to protect the office use when there is no clear evidence that there is demand for this use. With Covid restrictions and lock down, the planning officer realised that preventing the change of use to educational and training would harm the local economy and prevent a viable business from moving in to this location. After months of negotiations, the application was eventually granted planning permission by Barnet Council. The use classes now fall under Class E.