A typical brief
A freeholder of a small parade in South Croydon, Croydon, has a first-floor office that has been empty for over a year. Marketing it as offices has failed, and they want to know whether two flats can be created without a full planning application.
Constraints and planning context
Class MA allows a change from Class E (commercial, business and service) to dwellings through prior approval, provided the space has been in Class E for two years and vacant for three months (verify the current rules, which changed in 2024). Prior approval covers transport, contamination, flooding, noise from commercial premises, natural light to habitable rooms and adequate space standards. A site like this is usually complex: access only by a rear stair, a takeaway extractor next door, and a shallow floor depth limiting where bedrooms can go. The first check is that no Article 4 direction removes the right at the address.
How we would design it
The 110 m² floor divides into two one-bedroom, two-person flats of 50 m² and 51 m², each meeting the nationally described space standard, with a shared lobby off the rear stair. Living rooms face the street and bedrooms face the rear yard so every habitable room has a window. We would commission and coordinate a noise report and a daylight assessment early, and expect them to lead to acoustic glazing on the front and a resilient floor build-up over the shops.
Likely planning route
Croydon decides Class MA prior approval within 56 days. With the reports in place and the space standards met, we would expect approval with conditions securing the acoustic measures. The council fee is £250 per dwelling (verify before applying).
Documentation we would prepare
- Feasibility study confirming Class MA eligibility
- Existing and proposed floor plans and elevations
- Space standards schedule
- Coordination of the noise report and daylight assessment
- Prior approval submission and response to consultee comments
Read more about our commercial to residential conversions under Class MA and feasibility studies, see how we work in Croydon, or get an instant estimate.
