We are located in
Central Manchester
OFFICE
3 Stevenson Square,
Manchester M1 1DN
(+44) 161 521 3234
info@createitstudios.co.uk
Create It Studio Architects
Change of Use Architects in Manchester
Turn an underused building into something that earns its keep.
You've spotted the opportunity.
An empty shop on a good high street. An office block that nobody wants as offices any more. An old mill, a tired warehouse, a building that's done one job for decades and could do a far better one now.
On paper it's obvious. In practice, the words "change of use" open a door onto planning rules, use classes and permitted development rights — and it's hard to know whether your idea is a quick application or a two-year fight.
So the building sits there. Earning nothing. While you try to work out whether it's worth the risk.
It shouldn't be that hard to get a straight answer. And with the right architect looking at it early, it isn't.
That's the problem we solve
We're Create It Studio Architects. We've been designing buildings in Manchester since 2015, and converting them from one use to another is some of the work we do most.
We're RIBA Chartered and ARB registered. We've taken mills into apartments, nurseries into dental clinics, commercial units into shops and homes — and steered each one through the planning route that actually fit it.
94% of our planning applications are approved. Our projects carry more than £100m in combined GDV.
We work with SME property developers and commercial business owners across Greater Manchester and the North West — people who need a building that performs, not just a drawing that looks nice.
What "change of use" actually means
Every building has a planning use class — the official category for what it's used for. A shop, an office, a café, a home and a warehouse all sit in different classes.
Change of use is the work of moving a building from one of those categories to another, legally and in a way the planners will accept. Sometimes that's a formal application. Sometimes it's covered by permitted development rights and needs only a lighter prior approval. And sometimes, for a protected or listed building, it needs more.
The trick is knowing which route your building falls into before you spend money finding out the hard way.
Why people get this wrong
Most change of use problems start with a wrong assumption.
Someone hears that "offices to flats is permitted development now" and assumes their building qualifies. Or they start the fit-out before the use is approved. Or they treat a listed building like any other and get a refusal — and a lot of wasted fees — for their trouble.
The rules around use classes and permitted development have changed repeatedly in recent years, and the detail decides everything. Two near-identical buildings on the same street can need completely different approaches. Getting that wrong at the start is expensive to undo later.
How we do it differently
We check the route first. Before anything is drawn, we work out whether your conversion is permitted development, needs a full change of use application, or triggers listed building consent. That one answer shapes your cost, your timeline and your risk.
We design for the use, not just the drawing. A building that changes use has to work for its new job — the light, the access, the fire strategy, the parking, the sound between flats. We design for how it will actually be lived in or worked in, so it passes building regulations and performs once it's open.
We handle the whole journey. Site appraisal, concept design, the planning application, building regulations and tender — then through to construction if you want us there. One team, one point of contact, from the first look to the finished building.
What that looks like in practice
We've done this across a wide range of buildings:
- A 3-storey 1891 mill near Bury centre, converted into 24 residential apartments on the upper floors
- A former nursery in Glossop, turned into a 6-room dental clinic with reception and patient facilities
- A commercial space converted into retail units, lifting both compliance and rental returns
- A locally listed building in Stockport, refurbished into residential apartments
- A Grade II listed building in Ardwick, converted into seven apartments
Different buildings, different uses, different planning routes — same job of turning dead space into something that works and earns.
How we work with you
Our process runs in three clear steps:
Let's Talk — a free consultation and site appraisal. We'll look at your building, tell you honestly whether your change of use is realistic, and set out the likely route. No obligation.
Let's Design — concept design for the new use, then through planning permission, building regulations and tender. Our 94% approval rate comes from matching each scheme to the right planning route from the start.
Let's Build — technical design, tender support, construction and project management. We stay involved so that what we designed is what actually gets built.
Who we work with
Most of our change of use work is for SME property developers — people buying an underused building and turning it into homes or lettable commercial space.
We also work with commercial business owners converting a building for their own trade: dental and healthcare practices, pharmacies, restaurants, retail and offices.
If you're not sure whether your idea is even allowed, that's exactly the conversation to start with.
What we need from you to get started
Bring us whatever you have. A building address. A rough idea of what you want it to become. An agent's particulars. A refusal you got last time.
We'll come back with an honest view of whether the change of use works — and the route we'd take to get it approved.
Let's talk about your building
The earlier we're involved, the more we can protect.
Book your free consultation
Or call us on 0161 521 3234. Office hours Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is change of use in planning?
Change of use is moving a building from one planning use class to another — for example from a shop to a home, or an office to a clinic. Every building has a use class that defines what it's legally used for, and changing it usually needs either a planning application or a lighter prior approval, depending on the case.
Do I need planning permission for a change of use?
Often, but not always. Some changes are covered by permitted development rights and need only a prior approval application rather than a full planning permission. Others need a full change of use application. The right route depends on your building, its current use and its location, which is exactly what we check before any work starts.
What is permitted development and Class MA?
Permitted development rights allow certain changes without a full planning application, subject to conditions and a prior approval process. Class MA is one of these rights — in general terms, it can allow suitable commercial, business and service premises to become homes. Whether a specific building qualifies depends on size, condition, location and several other conditions, so it always needs checking case by case.
Can I convert a commercial property into residential?
In many cases, yes — this is one of the most common conversions we do. Depending on the building it may fall under permitted development, such as Class MA, or it may need a full change of use application. Either way, the new homes must also meet building regulations and residential design standards, which shapes how the building is laid out.
Can I change a building into a clinic or other commercial use?
Yes. We've converted buildings into dental clinics and other healthcare and commercial uses, and the same principles apply: confirm the planning route, then design the building to work properly for its new job. Commercial conversions bring their own requirements around access, servicing and compliance, which we design for from the outset.
What about listed buildings?
Listed and locally protected buildings can still change use, but they usually need listed building consent alongside the planning route, and the design has to respect the building's character. We've converted listed and protected buildings into apartments, so this is familiar ground — it simply needs more care and a clear plan from the start.
How long does a change of use take?
It varies a great deal depending on the route and the building. A prior approval can be quicker than a full application, and a listed building will take longer again. We'll give you an indicative timescale once we've seen your building — but we won't promise a fixed date, because planning timelines depend on the local authority as well as the scheme.
What does the architect actually do?
We confirm the right planning route, design the building for its new use, and prepare and submit the application. From there we take the scheme through building regulations and tender, and can manage the construction too. You get one team guiding the whole conversion, from the first appraisal to handing over the finished building.
Explore our other services
Architectural Design Services
SITE APPRAISAL
Planning Permissison
Building Regulations
Tender
Construction
Project Management
CDM REGULATIONS
Principal Designer
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