C2 planning, from first question to decision.
Whether a building can lawfully be used for residential care often decides whether a placement happens at all. We work out the answer early, choose the right route with qualified planning consultants and take the application through to a decision.
Use classes, in plain English.
Planning law groups buildings by how they are used. The class a property sits in, and the one your service needs, decides whether permission is required.
| Class | What it covers | What it means for supported living |
|---|---|---|
| C3(a) | A dwelling house lived in by a single person or a family. | Standard family housing. A change to care use may need permission. |
| C3(b) | Up to six people living together as a single household and receiving care. | Many supported-living services. Some small children’s homes are treated this way. |
| C4 | A small house in multiple occupation: three to six unrelated people sharing basic amenities. | Shared supported accommodation, subject to licensing and local policy. |
| Sui generis | Large HMOs with more than six residents, and other uses outside the classes. | Larger shared houses usually need specific permission. |
| C2 | Residential institutions: accommodation and care for people in need of care, such as care homes and residential schools. | Residential care homes and many children’s homes. A change to C2 usually needs planning permission. |
General information about the Use Classes Order in England. It is not legal or planning advice for a specific property.
The right route for the building.
There is rarely one answer. The route depends on the building’s history, the service you plan to run and local policy.
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Every instruction starts here
Feasibility review
Before you buy, lease or spend on drawings: the building’s lawful use and planning history, local policy, parking, amenity and the likely concerns of the council and neighbours.
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Where the proposed use may already be lawful
Lawful Development Certificate
Formal confirmation from the council that an existing or proposed use is already lawful, so no planning application is needed.
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Where policy is finely balanced
Pre-application advice
An early, written view from the council on a proposal, to reduce risk before a full application.
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Where permission is needed
Change-of-use application
A full planning application for change of use to C2, with drawings, a planning statement, a management plan and any supporting reports.
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Where an application has been refused
Refusals and appeals
A fresh review of the reasons for refusal and the options: amend and resubmit, or appeal with specialist support.
- Staff office and sleep-in space
- Accessible entrance, parking and drop-off
- Residents’ rooms, amenity and outlook
What happens, step by step.
One point of contact throughout. We coordinate the consultants, the drawings and the council so you can get on with running your service.
Initial conversation
Postcode, current use, proposed service and number of residents. We tell you quickly whether it is worth pursuing.
Feasibility and route
Planning history, policy and constraints reviewed with our consultants, and a recommended route agreed with you.
Prepare the case
Drawings, planning statement, operational management plan and any specialist reports, coordinated by us.
Submit and validate
Application submitted to the local planning authority and validated. Council fees are paid by the client directly.
Track and respond
We monitor the application, answer officer queries and keep you, and the landlord where relevant, informed.
Decision and next steps
On approval, we move straight to placement or occupation. If refused, we set out the options.
What we need to start
- The property postcode
- Its current use, if known
- The service you plan to run and the number of residents
- Whether you own, are buying or are leasing it
- Any conversations with the council so far
Straight answers
- Planning decisions are made by the local planning authority. We never promise an outcome.
- A building’s previous use is not proof of its current lawful use.
- Council planning fees and any specialist reports are paid by the client directly.
- We never ask for details about the people who will live in the property.
Start a planning enquiry.
Tell us about the property and what you want to do with it. A postcode is enough at this stage.
We review every enquiry and tell you plainly if we think a proposal is unlikely to succeed.
Common questions.
Do all supported-living services need C2?
No. Many supported-living services operate within C3(b), where up to six people live together as a household and receive care. Whether a use falls within C2 depends on how the service operates, so it is assessed case by case.
Can I start before I buy or lease the property?
Yes, and it is usually the right time. A feasibility review before you commit can save the cost of a property that cannot be used as planned.
How long does it take?
Councils aim to decide most applications of this kind within eight weeks of validation, but many take longer. Preparation time depends on the building and the reports needed. We give you a realistic programme after the feasibility review.
Does previous use as a care home mean C2 is in place?
Not necessarily. A building’s lawful use depends on its planning history and what has happened since. We check rather than assume.
Who prepares the application?
Qualified planning consultants and architects working with us. You deal with one point of contact at CareKey throughout.
Where do you work?
We support planning work across England. Planning systems differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so talk to us first if your property is there.