We eagerly await the findings from the recent government consultation on proposals to amend the Use Classes Order to permit a change of use from commercial (Use Class B1) to residential (Use Class C3) without the need for planning permission. The Government has estimated this relaxation could deliver 250,000 much-needed new homes if all vacant property was brought forward and save £140 million over ten years by cutting red tape. 

While the government has not yet published the results of the Consultation Paper, the consensus from those who have made their thoughts known is unsurprisingly an overwhelming support in general, for any initiative that seeks to increase housing supply and bring back into use redundant office buildings.

It is considered that there will be some considerable stock, predominantly Georgian and Victorian properties, originally built for residential use, that will be suitable for conversion under the proposed new permitted development rights.

However, it is widely argued that the new rights must be conditional to ensure that the controls lost over key factors in the provision of housing such as sustainability, location, good design, housing mix, S106 contributions and community involvement by the removal for the need for planning permission, will be upheld. Failing this, the new permitted development rights will undermine the primary role of the planning system and the Government's Localism Agenda to create sustainable communities.

Ultimately, the new permitted development rights must achieve a balance between the need for an increase in housing supply and the need to create sustainable communities. If the conditions placed on the permitted development rights are too weak, the standards of housing will fall. If they are too strong, the process will be as complex and time-consuming as seeking planning permission.

For further information contact:

Sascha Newton

at our Orpington office

T   01689 888222

E   snewton@calfordseaden.co.uk