Government Announces Controversial Plans To Allow Offices To Be Converted To Homes Without The Need For Planning Permission
Planning minister Nick Boles today said that new rules to introduce permitted development rights for change of use from B1(a) offices to C3 residential purposes will come into force on 30 May 2013.
The key issues arising include:
1. The secondary legislation laid today amends the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order) 1995. The statutory instruments come into force on 30 May 2013.
2. The written ministerial statement can be found on the DCLG website.
3. There are areas in 17 local authorities in England consisting of individual buildings, roads or zones that are exempt from new rights to convert offices to homes, following careful assessment of all the cases submitted. They are in the City of London and the London boroughs of Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Westminster, Newham, and Kensington and Chelsea. Other areas are in the borough councils of Vale of the White Horse, Stevenage, Ashford (Kent), the district councils of Sevenoaks and East Hampshire, and Manchester City Council.
4. To create flexible accommodation for new and start-up businesses, and allow other businesses to adapt swiftly to changing conditions, buildings that are classed for use as retail, financial services, restaurants, pubs and hot food takeaways, offices, leisure and assembly uses can temporarily change to another use class. They can be used for retail, financial services, restaurants and cafes and offices for a single period of up to 2 years.
5. Existing agricultural buildings under 500sq.m can change to a number of other business uses. For buildings between 150sq.m and 500sq.m, prior approval is required, to ensure that the change of use does not create unacceptable impacts (such as noise or transport problems).
6. We are also increasing the thresholds for business change of use, increasing from 235sq.m to 500sq.m for change of use from offices and general industrial use to storage and distribution, and from general industrial and storage or distribution to offices. This will help provide vital flexibility to enable the quick responses necessary to support business growth.
7. Premises that are offices, hotels and assembly or leisure use classes are able to change use permanently to a state-funded school (subject to prior approval covering highways and transport impacts and noise). A temporary permitted development right is being introduced which allows a building in any use class to be used as a state-funded school for 1 academic year to help deliver new schools and allow for minor associated physical development.
8. The requirement for prior approval of siting and appearance of fixed broadband infrastructure has been relaxed for 5 years to encourage operators to invest in this key provision in rural areas.
9. Homes and business owners will also be able to extend their properties for a 3-year period as part of new permitted development rights. Mindful of adjoining residential neighbours’ amenity a light-touch neighbours’ consultation is being introduced.
If you would like to discuss how these changes might affect your business, please do not hesitate to contact us.
