This section applies where a building or part of a building—
has been suitable for use as a dwelling, and
is altered for the purpose of making it suitable for use otherwise than as a dwelling.
The question whether or not the alterations make the building or part unsuitable for use as a dwelling is one of fact (but see subsection (3)).
The building or part will not be regarded as having become unsuitable for use as a dwelling as a result of the alterations at any time unless by that time any planning permission , development consent or infrastructure consent required for the alterations has been granted (and the alterations have been made in accordance with any such permission or consent).
In this section "planning permission" has the meaning given by the relevant planning enactment.
"The relevant planning enactment" means—
in relation to land in England and Wales, section 336(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
in relation to land in Scotland, section 277(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;
in relation to land in Northern Ireland, Article 2(2) of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991/1220 (N.I. 11)).
In this section—
"development consent" means development consent under the Planning Act 2008.
"infrastructure consent" means infrastructure consent under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024.