Body massage parlour - A1 or D1?

[yellowribbon]

Please advise if the above business type is classified as shop use of A1 or D1.

I also were told that if the proposed business is going to be a Beauty Salon, then only shop of use "sui generis" can be applied. "A1" shop can not be used for this business. Is this correct?

Thank you for your help.

[Poppy]

From what I can tell by searching the internet, massage parlours do not fall neatly into a particular existing use class. My search criteria was:

massage parlour "use class" - do you understand this?
UK only

You will find applications to local authorities and published decisions and appeals.

If the premises are already providing such services with local authority permission, then you (as an incoming tenant) can probably continue that trade.

At the end of the day, you must speak to the local authority concerned. I believe they will require reassurance about parking, shop windows, crime and so on.

[jeffrey]

I'm certainly not a planning law expert (and even less of an expert on massage parlours) but see class D1(a): "provision of any medical or health services except...[if] attached to the residence of the consultant or practitioner". None of the class A1 uses seems to cover it.

NB: replies relate to England/Wales. Different rules apply in Scotland and elsewhere.

[Planner]

It would be D1.

[pdk]

You can seek a determination from the Council, in the form of a Certificate of Proposed Development. Don't make guesses on the use class!!! if you're not sure then ask the Council.

PETER

NOTE: Peter Kyte BSC (Hons) DipTP MRTPI CGeog is an official LandlordZONE Topic Expert… For more information on Peter D Kyte Associates and Enabling Projects please see the websites at http://www.enablinguk.com and http://www.development-seekers.com. Any advice given by Peter Kyte in this Forum is of a general nature only and should not be taken to be a final and binding planning opinion. Based on any initial advice given you are strongly advised to seek a further professional opinion, which may involve a site visit and a detailed analysis of the issues... For information on the sort of work Peter undertakes please see TRACK RECORD (http://www.enablinguk.com/track.html), WORKING WITH INVESTORS (http://www.enablinguk.com/ur-property-investors-planning.html), and PROJECT TYPES (http://www.enablinguk.com/planning-project-permission-appeal-UK.html)...

[yellowribbon]

You can seek a determination from the Council, in the form of a Certificate of Proposed Development. Don't make guesses on the use class!!! if you're not sure then ask the Council.

PETER

NOTE: Peter Kyte BSC (Hons) DipTP MRTPI CGeog is an official LandlordZONE Topic Expert… For more information on Peter D Kyte Associates and Enabling Projects please see the websites at http://www.enablinguk.com and http://www.development-seekers.com. Any advice given by Peter Kyte in this Forum is of a general nature only and should not be taken to be a final and binding planning opinion. Based on any initial advice given you are strongly advised to seek a further professional opinion, which may involve a site visit and a detailed analysis of the issues... For information on the sort of work Peter undertakes please see TRACK RECORD (http://www.enablinguk.com/track.html), WORKING WITH INVESTORS (http://www.enablinguk.com/ur-property-investors-planning.html), and PROJECT TYPES (http://www.enablinguk.com/planning-project-permission-appeal-UK.html)...
Hi pdk
How long usually will take to get this Certificate from the council? I hope it's not 8 weeks like a standard Planning Application!
By the way, if I can get one council to certify the use class of our respectable Therapeutic Body Massage Parlour. Does it means that it will be applicable to all area councils in the whole England?
By the way, thank you all guys for your input.

[Poppy]

The very first thing you should do is contact your local authority. Have you done that yet?

[yellowribbon]

Yes, I have found one property that I like very much which is A1 class. The local council wanted written enquiry and I sent it. But they can not tell me exactly when I will receive the reply.
The thing I am worring about is, by the time they give me an answer even if it may be a favourable one, the property may be taken by someone else. Then I have to start all over again with a fresh enquiry to may be a different area council - and a period of wait.
If different area council held different opinion about the use, can anyone imagine the pain?