C2 Use Class (Residential Institutions) relates to the provision of residential accommodation and care to people in need of care (other than a use within class C3 (dwelling houses). For example for use as a hospital or nursing home (including residential care homes), for use as a residential school (i.e. boarding school), college or training centre.
C2A Use Class relates to secure institutions. These include use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or use as a military barracks
In the original Use Classes Order, care was defined as “Personal care for people in need of such care by reason of old age, disablement, past or present dependence on alcohol or past or present mental disorder.”