Whether you are buying or selling property, renting or leasing a commercial unit or acting as a sales agent or conveyancer, it is important that you ensure planning permission has been granted for the desired use. Where a change of use is required, formal permission must be sought through an application for planning approval.

Problems can often arise where property is assumed to have an accepted use when it is marketed, only to discover that the previous occupier did not gain permission. As councils in Northern Ireland exercise their enforcement powers, more and more people are finding themselves threatened with planning enforcement proceedings.

As different uses carry differing requirements in relation to planning, issues including access, parking, noise pollution and contamination can become significant obstacles to gaining the necessary approval. If not handled swiftly and professionally applications for change of use can become very time consuming and extremely costly, especially where business becomes disrupted.

C60 Architects and Town Planners have extensive experience in the preparation of change of use applications and representing clients where planning enforcement is threatened.

For professional advice in relation to any change of use query give us a call to discuss what actions are required.

“C60 Architects and Town Planners provide expert advice in relation to all aspects of planning land use and change of use”