Deemed Consent Obtained for Class MA Office-to-Residential Conversion in Colchester Town Centre
Class MA deemed consent for an office-to-residential conversion in Colchester town centre after the Council failed to issue a decision within the 56-day deadline — a result achieved by knowing and exercising the rights available under the GPDO 2015.
PRIOR APPROVAL SUCCESSESCOLCHESTERESSEX
Andrew Ransome
7/23/20262 min read
Class MA prior approval application for the change of use of an office to residential apartments in Colchester town centre resulted in deemed consent — automatically approved — after Colchester City Council failed to issue a decision within the 56-day statutory deadline.
This was not an accident: I had submitted a robust and fully compliant application, and I knew that if the Council missed its deadline without a valid extension, deemed consent would follow as a matter of law.
Class MA Deemed Consent in Colchester Town Centre
I I obtained deemed consent for a Class MA prior approval application in Colchester town centre after the Council failed to determine the application within the 56-day deadline set out in paragraph W(11) of the General Permitted Development Order 2015.
Class MA allows the change of use of Class E commercial premises to residential use through a prior approval process.
The GPDO requires the local planning authority to issue its decision — either that prior approval is required and is granted or refused, or that prior approval is not required — within 56 days of the application being validated.
If no decision is issued within that period, and if the application meets all the eligibility criteria, the development is automatically deemed approved.
When submitting a Class MA application, it is essential to ensure the application is complete, valid and fully compliant before submission.
The Council's failure to meet its statutory deadline was the Council's own responsibility.
Planning Application Advice
If you have a vacant office and want to understand whether Class MA applies, I can advise and manage the prior approval application. Contact me to discuss.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
Prior Approval Successes
Prior Approval Information
Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
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