Successful change of use of a ‘light-industrial’ building to a ‘storage and distribution’ unit

Bloomfields previously secured Prior Approval in October 2021 for a client to change the use of a former nursery packhouse into a building for commercial use under Class R of the General Permitted Development Order (reference 21/01551/AS).

Since then, the building has primarily been used for storage purposes rather than light-industrial activities. Light industrial uses are small-scale workshops or business activities, such as assembling, repairing, or packaging goods, which do not create significant noise, traffic, or disturbance to neighbours.

To ensure the use of the building was official we submitted a planning application seeking permission for its continued use for storage and distribution, without any changes to the external appearance of the building.

The application demonstrated that storage and distribution is closely related to the previously approved light-industrial use and represents a suitable and viable use for the site.

The application was straightforward and attracted very little feedback or opposition during the consultation process. Planning permission was subsequently granted in late 2025.