Do I Need Planning Permission.co.uk
Making the most of your Home

I have had some conflicting information about a property we are buying. It was originally a house (C3) then turned into a care home (C2). The care home then moved to a different premises and the building has remained empty for quite some time and is no longer in a liveable condition (not too bad but needs water reconnecting, heating installed, new floor beams...but the shell is good).

We want to turn the building back into a house for me and my family to live in. We understand we will need to apply for planning to change it from C2 back to C3.

I have been told by one person at the planning office that I can't do this until the purchase is complete, and I have been told by another planning office in a different town (the town I am moving from) that I can do it before the purchase is complete.

Just wondered if anyone could shed some light on who is correct and also if there is any other way around it.

Thanks :)

If you are not the owner at the time of submission, you would need to serve notice on those who are.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-an-application#Ownership-Certificate-and-Agricultural-Land-Declaration