Commercial-to-residential change of use in Birmingham
Do you need planning permission to convert a shop or office into homes in Birmingham? Not always. Under Class MA, commercial, business and service (Class E) premises can become dwellings subject to prior approval. The building must have been in an eligible use for at least 2 continuous years, and some sites are excluded, including listed buildings and scheduled monuments.[1] New homes created this way are still checked against Birmingham's space and amenity criteria under Policy DM10.[2]
Local rules for a commercial-to-residential change of use in Birmingham
- For new dwellings the council's 2021 local validation criteria ask for information under Policy DM10 on the Nationally Described Space Standards, accessible and adaptable homes, and outdoor amenity space.[2]
- Birmingham's validation criteria ask for a CIL form where a full application creates over 100 sqm of new floorspace, 100 sqm of change-of-use floorspace or a new dwelling.[3]
How Birmingham handles these applications
Birmingham granted 166 of the 288 change-of-use applications it decided in the year to 30 June 2026, or 57.6%.[4] In the same period it decided 102 applications for between 1 and 9 new homes.[4]
Planning Data has 1,520 listed-building records inside the Birmingham boundary, of which 134 are Grade I or II*, though the dataset may not be complete.[5] The new Birmingham Local Plan, which looks ahead to 2044, reached Publication Plan stage when Cabinet approved it on 28 July 2026, with submission to the Planning Inspectorate due in late 2026.[6]
Average prices in August 2026 were £143,861 for a flat and £223,462 for a terraced home, which gives context for the value of new homes created from commercial space.[7]
What it costs
A commercial-to-residential change of use with Plandome costs a fixed £3,000 (VAT_WORDING_TBC); the council charges its application fee separately.
The proposal is free, so you can see what we would prepare before you decide.
Charges and fees that come from the council or from national rules:
- Birmingham's 2026-27 pre-application advice for minor operations, meaning up to 5 residential units or other development up to 500 sqm including change of use, costs £332.40 including VAT in writing, or £499.20 with a meeting.[8]
- Residential CIL in Birmingham is charged at £101.85 per sqm indexed (£69 unindexed) in high-value zones 1 to 3, and is £0 in low-value zones 4 to 7 and in the Green Belt.[9]
- Offices and industrial or employment floorspace are charged £0 CIL in all areas.[9]
- A full application for change of use to separate dwellinghouses carries a national planning fee of £610 for each dwellinghouse where there are fewer than 10 (from 1 April 2026).[10]
What the work looks like
Questions people ask
Does Birmingham usually approve change-of-use applications?
Birmingham granted 57.6% of the 288 change-of-use decisions in the year to 30 June 2026, according to the government's PS2 table.[4] The figure covers every kind of change of use and says nothing about a particular scheme.
Is CIL charged on offices in Birmingham?
Offices and industrial or employment floorspace are charged £0 CIL in all areas.[9]
Is approval of a commercial-to-residential change of use guaranteed?
No. The decision belongs to Birmingham, and nobody outside the council can promise a result.
Is this page advice about my own property?
No. It is general information, drawn from the sources listed below and last checked on 14 November 2026. Rules can depend on your address, so check it before you rely on it.