On the face of it changing A4 to A1 Part 3 Class A of the GPDO seems relatively straightforward, as it simply permits the following without any limitations or conditions:
“Development consisting of a change of use of a building to a use falling within Class A1 (shops) of the Schedule to the Use Classes Order from a use falling within Class A3 (restaurants and cafes), A4 (drinking establishments) or A5 (hot food takeaways) of the Schedule.”
However, with planning there are always potential problems, and they are often very difficult to predict.
For example, can you convert a pub to multiple shops? It seems to be me you can only convert the planning unit to an A1 use (singular) without requiring planning permission. Once implemented and the conversion has taken place, it could then be intensified into more than one A1 use. Only the shop external alterations are likely to require planning permission.
Has anyone else come up against this before or do you take the view that it could be multiple uses?
