Empty offices. Vacant shops. Underperforming assets. We convert them into homes.

Class MA is a permitted development right that allows buildings in Use Class E (which includes offices, shops, restaurants, gyms, and other commercial uses) to be converted to residential (Use Class C3) without requiring a full planning application. Instead, you apply for prior approval from the local planning authority, which is a faster and more predictable process. There are conditions — including that the building must have been in commercial use for at least two years and must not be in an area where an Article 4 direction removes the right. RCB will confirm eligibility before any application is made.

In most London postcodes, the capital value per square foot of residential property — measured by sale price or investment yield on rental income — exceeds that of comparable commercial space, particularly for smaller offices and retail units. Vacancy rates for secondary commercial stock have risen sharply since 2020. Converting an underperforming commercial asset to residential frequently generates a significant uplift in both capital value and annual income. RCB can help you run the numbers before committing to a project.

Converting a commercial building to residential requires creating fire compartments that contain a fire within one unit long enough for occupants to escape. This means installing fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings between units, upgrading fire doors, ensuring means of escape routes are compliant, and fitting the required detection and alarm systems. The standards are set by Approved Document B of the Building Regulations. RCB designs and installs full fire compartmentation as standard on every conversion project — it is not an optional extra.

Unit count depends on the floor plate size, the minimum room sizes required under the nationally described space standards (NDSS), daylight and ventilation requirements, and the fire escape strategy. As a rough guide, a 100sqm floor plate typically supports 2-3 one-bedroom units. RCB will produce a unit mix and layout study during feasibility so you know the maximum viable unit count before committing to the project.

Yes — and this is one of the most common conversion types we handle. Many traditional high street properties have a commercial ground floor with vacant residential or storage space above. Class MA may apply to the upper floors independently of the ground floor retail. We can convert the upper floors to self-contained residential units with independent access, leaving the ground floor commercial use unchanged, or convert the whole building where the commercial use is no longer viable.