Commercial-to-residential change of use in Richmond upon Thames
Do you need planning permission to convert a shop or office into homes in Richmond upon Thames? Often yes in the mapped areas, where an Article 4 Direction removes the Class E to C3 right.[1] Prior approval under Class MA can allow Class E premises to become homes if they have been in an eligible use for a continuous period of at least 2 years; exclusions include listed buildings and scheduled monuments.[2]
Local rules for a commercial-to-residential change of use in Richmond upon Thames
- A non-immediate Article 4 Direction made on 30 July 2021 and confirmed on 21 June 2022 removes the permitted development right for Class E to C3 change of use in mapped locations in Richmond, so planning permission is needed there.[1]
How Richmond upon Thames handles these applications
In the 12 months to 30 June 2026, Richmond upon Thames decided 12 change-of-use applications of all kinds and granted 6 of them (50.0%).[3] With so few decisions, the percentage moves a long way with each one, so it says little on its own. In the same period it decided 173 applications for between 1 and 9 new homes.[3]
Planning Data has 814 listed-building records inside the borough, of which 128 are Grade I or II*, although the dataset may be incomplete.[4] The borough adopted its new Local Plan, covering 2024-2039, and its Policies Map on 7 October 2025.[5]
Average prices in August 2026 were £492,607 for a flat and £931,524 for a terraced home, which gives context for the value of new homes created from commercial space.[6]
What it costs
Plandome's fixed fee for a commercial-to-residential change of use is £3,000 (VAT_WORDING_TBC). The council's own application fee is separate.
You see a free proposal first and pay nothing until you choose to order.
Charges and fees that come from the council or from national rules:
- In the 2026 indexed rates, residential CIL in Richmond is £418.41 per sqm (higher band) or £317.99 per sqm (lower band), under a schedule effective from 1 November 2014.[7]
- Offices inside Richmond Town Centre are charged £41.84 per sqm (2026 indexed) under the same schedule.[7]
- For fewer than 10 dwellinghouses, the national fee for a full change-of-use application is £610 per dwellinghouse (from 1 April 2026).[8]
What the work looks like
Questions people ask
How often does Richmond upon Thames grant change-of-use applications?
The government's PS2 table shows 6 grants from 12 change-of-use decisions in the year to 30 June 2026.[3] That is a figure for change of use in general, not a forecast for yours.
What does Richmond's Article 4 Direction for commercial to residential do?
It removes the permitted development right for Class E to C3 change of use in mapped locations, so planning permission is needed there.[1] It was made on 30 July 2021 and confirmed on 21 June 2022.[1]
Can Plandome guarantee that a commercial-to-residential change of use will be approved?
No. Plandome prepares the application, but Richmond upon Thames decides it, and no consultant can promise the outcome.
Can I rely on this page for my own address?
No. It summarises published sources as they stood on 14 November 2026. Your property may be subject to conditions or designations that a general page cannot cover.