18,000 affordable houses lost through ‘permitted development’
0More than 18,000 affordable houses have been lost in England as a result of office-to-residential conversions under “permitted development” according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
Since 2015, a total of 73,575 new houses have been converted from offices under permitted development, where full planning permission is not needed and there are no requirements to provide affordable housing. With housing developments not using the permitted development route, the expectation is for affordable housing to comprise 25% of the total.
The LGA, which represents 350 councils in England and Wales, said that permitted development rights should be removed to ensure all conversions and new developments contribute to the delivery of affordable homes across the country. Developments should go through the planning system, where they are subject to more stringent quality assurance, it added.
“There is a need for more affordable housing across the country but, regrettably, premises such as offices, agricultural buildings, shops, restaurants and light industry can now be converted into houses without the need to provide any affordable homes,” said David Renard, the LGA’s housing spokesperson.
“Giving planning powers back to councils will also support local ambitions to revive and reimagine high streets and town centres.”
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