Sui Generis

‘Sui generis’ is a Latin term that, in this context, means ‘in a class of its own’.

Certain uses are specifically defined and excluded from classification by legislation, and therefore become ‘sui generis’. These are:

• theatres
• amusement arcades/centres or funfairs
• launderettes
• fuel stations
• hiring, selling and/or displaying motor vehicles
• taxi businesses
• scrap yards, or a yard for the storage/distribution of minerals and/or the breaking of motor vehicles
• ‘Alkali work’ (any work registerable under the Alkali, etc. Works Regulation Act 1906 (as amended))
• hostels (providing no significant element of care)
• waste disposal installations for the incineration, chemical treatment or landfill of hazardous waste
• retail warehouse clubs
• nightclubs
• casinos
• betting offices/shops
• pay day loan shops
• public houses, wine bars, or drinking establishments – from 1 September 2020, previously Class A4
• drinking establishments with expanded food provision – from 1 September 2020, previously Class A4
• hot food takeaways (for the sale of hot food where consumption of that food is mostly undertaken off the premises) – from 1 September 2020, previously Class A5
• venues for live music performance – newly defined as ‘Sui Generis’ use from 1 September 2020
• cinemas – from 1 September 2020, previously Class D2(a)
• concert halls – from 1 September 2020, previously Class D2(b)
• bingo halls – from 1 September 2020, previously Class D2(c)
• dance halls – from 1 September 2020, previously Class D2(d)

Other uses become ‘sui generis’ where they fall outside the defined limits of any other use class.

For example, C4 (Houses in multiple occupation) is limited to houses with no more than six residents. Therefore, houses in multiple occupation with more than six residents become a ‘sui generis’ use.