Vacant Commercial Floorspace Use Classes Expanded To Encourage Occupancy

Since 2020, 4 no. office units remained vacant within a large mixed-use development in London.  A planning condition restricted them solely to office use and due to a combination of factors, including Covid and changes to working patterns, marketing failed to attract an occupant.  The condition also conflicted with changes to the Use Classes Order, whereby offices were incorporated within a new Class E, including a wide variety of commercial, business and service uses.  Bloomfields successfully demonstrated to the Local Planning Authority why they should grant planning permission to widen the use of the commercial floorspace and give greater flexibility to future occupants to ensure that these long-term vacant units could finally be brought into use.