from residential to commercial use

Can anyone tell me what is involved in turning a town house into a boutique.
Do we have to apply for planning permission?
Just mulling over the idea at the moment as we recently purchased a three story town house and planned to do it up as accomodation but have an idea about using the ground floor as a boutique.

You'll need to apply for planning permission for change of use from residential to commercial.

Yes thanks, was just being lazy have checked it out properly since, but thanks for the reply.