Material Change of Use - Planning Permission Required

Where the business activity increases and the non-residential use of the property ceases to be ancillary to its use as a single dwelling, a material change of use for which planning permission is required is likely to have taken place. The likelihood of there having been such a material change of use may be indicated where the following have occurred: • a significant alteration to the appearance of the dwelling; • a significant increase in the volume of visitors or traffic; • a significant increase in noise, fumes or smell; • the installation of special machinery or equipment not normally found in a dwelling; and • the laying out of rooms in such a way that they could not easily revert to residential use at the end of the working day.