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Portsoken House, a City office building in Aldgate

Class MA Prior Approval and Permitted Development in London

Class MA is a permitted development right that lets many Class E commercial buildings become homes (C3) through prior approval instead of full planning. We check whether your building qualifies, secure the approval and build the conversion.

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Schemes from £3M to £150M GDV

We take conversion schemes of this size from prior approval to handover.

Class MA explained

Prior approval does not judge the principle of the change. The council looks only at a set list of matters, which makes the route narrower and more certain than full planning.

  • Which buildings

    Buildings in commercial, business and service use (Class E), subject to conditions on their previous use.

  • What the council checks

    Matters such as transport, contamination, flooding, noise and natural light to every habitable room.

  • Space standards

    New homes must meet the nationally described space standard.

  • Article 4 in London

    Many central London boroughs remove Class MA rights in set areas; we check yours first.

  • Timescale

    Many prior approvals have a 56-day determination period.

  • Lawful Development Certificates

    Formal proof that a use or development is lawful, for lenders and buyers.

How we secure Class MA prior approval

We confirm the building's use history, designations and any Article 4 direction.

Our design team lays out homes that meet space and natural light standards.

We prepare and submit the application with the reports it needs.

We answer the council's questions within the determination period.

Strip-out, reconfiguration and fit-out under one contract. See the conversion guide and conversion costs.

Stripped-out interior with a steel needle beam on props

Does your building qualify for Class MA?

Send us the address. We will check its use history and designations and tell you which route applies, free.

Building behind a facade-retention scaffold in London

Free Guide: Planning & Prior Approval in London

Full planning, permitted development, prior approval and change of use, and which route fits your building.

The time limits set by law, a document checklist, and the most common reasons applications are refused.

Why owners convert with Craftex

  • Approval and build, one team

    The homes we lay out for prior approval are the homes we build.

  • On programme, on budget

    Every project we have delivered has finished ahead of programme and on budget.

  • Around 70% in-house labour

    Tighter control of quality and programme once the scheme goes on site.

Independently Certified Contractor for Quality, Safety & Reliability

  • British Assessment Bureau
  • British Assessment Bureau certificate
  • British Assessment Bureau
  • Constructionline
  • CHAS Accredited Contractor
  • Alcumus

Class MA and prior approval: questions

What is Class MA?

A permitted development right allowing certain buildings in Class E (commercial, business and service) use to change to residential (C3), subject to prior approval of specific matters.

What is prior approval?

A lighter consent for some permitted development rights: the council does not judge the principle, only listed matters such as transport, flooding, noise or light.

Does Class MA apply everywhere in London?

No. Several London boroughs restrict it through Article 4 directions in particular areas, so a full application may be needed. We check your address first.

What is a Lawful Development Certificate?

Formal confirmation from the council that a use or development is lawful. It protects a sale, satisfies lenders and removes the argument before it starts.

What if my building does not qualify?

Then a full application is the route. See change of use planning permission and commercial to residential conversion.

Can you also build the conversion?

Yes. We are design and build contractors; Portsoken House was a £2.2M, 1,550 sq m warehouse-to-office conversion delivered in 7 months.

Find out if your building can become homes

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